California Tomato Commission hosts Canadian trade mission
California Tomato Commission hosts Canadian trade mission
FRESNO, CA -- A group of Canadian retailers and some representatives from a Canadian foodservice supplier visited California in early August as guests of the California Tomato Commission on a trade mission to learn more about the California tomato industry and establish or strengthen relationships with some California growers and shippers.
According to Carolyn Hughes, the commission's vice president of marketing, who accompanied the visitors on the tour along with Brad Brownsey, the commission's Canadian representative, the reaction from all participants was "very positive."
The group visited tomato fields and packinghouses in both northern and southern California, including California mature- green, Roma, vine-ripe and organic heirloom tomato operations. They also visited some retail outlets so that the Canadian customers could see how the products are merchandised in California supermarkets.
"This was their first trip down, ... their first time getting to know the industry, and it was all positive," said Ms. Hughes. "They were very impressed with both southern California and northern California operations."
One focus of the tour was to highlight the food safety protocols that are followed by California growers and packers. Compliance with good agricultural practices in the fields and good manufacturing practices in the sheds was everywhere evident, she noted. "Obviously, there is a whole lot more to GAP than you can actually see in the field," she said. But some things were very evident, such as a lunch facility "that was away from where the tomatoes were being picked."
Participants were also impressed with the state-of-the-art sorting equipment in the packinghouses as well as the state-of-the-art storage and conditioning rooms that were all in compliance with "the highest GMP standards."
The tour proved to be "a great way" to showcase the industry to the Canadian buyers, Ms. Hughes said. Moreover, "I think that the relationships" that were initiated during trade mission "will continue to grow."
According to Carolyn Hughes, the commission's vice president of marketing, who accompanied the visitors on the tour along with Brad Brownsey, the commission's Canadian representative, the reaction from all participants was "very positive."
The group visited tomato fields and packinghouses in both northern and southern California, including California mature- green, Roma, vine-ripe and organic heirloom tomato operations. They also visited some retail outlets so that the Canadian customers could see how the products are merchandised in California supermarkets.
"This was their first trip down, ... their first time getting to know the industry, and it was all positive," said Ms. Hughes. "They were very impressed with both southern California and northern California operations."
One focus of the tour was to highlight the food safety protocols that are followed by California growers and packers. Compliance with good agricultural practices in the fields and good manufacturing practices in the sheds was everywhere evident, she noted. "Obviously, there is a whole lot more to GAP than you can actually see in the field," she said. But some things were very evident, such as a lunch facility "that was away from where the tomatoes were being picked."
Participants were also impressed with the state-of-the-art sorting equipment in the packinghouses as well as the state-of-the-art storage and conditioning rooms that were all in compliance with "the highest GMP standards."
The tour proved to be "a great way" to showcase the industry to the Canadian buyers, Ms. Hughes said. Moreover, "I think that the relationships" that were initiated during trade mission "will continue to grow."
