MONTREAL – The Canadian Produce Marketing Association held its 86^th annual convention and exhibition April 13-15, here, and while the majority of companies on the trade show floor were veteran exhibitors, a handful experienced their first CPMA and got a taste of why so many come back year after year.

The Portland, OR-based Pear Bureau Northwest has developed new point-of-sale materials to raise consumer awareness of the April, May and June availability of Anjou pears. The materials spotlight red and green Anjou pears and their usage in spring menus alongside other seasonal produce like strawberries, spring greens and mangos.

Seasonal promotions have proven to be a key element in maximizing the sales of Salinas, CA-based Tanimura & Antle’s “Artisan” lettuce. The most recent “Artisan” lettuce Get in Shape program was credited with significant increases in product distribution and attracting several new retail customers. As a result, the growth in demand has the company planning a doubled production for the fall.

Pink Lady America, based in Yakima, WA, wants moms to feel special this Mother’s Day. A new campaign centered on the Pink Lady apple has been designed to pay respect to the women who do so much for their families.

The first pallets of fresh Chilean figs, off-loaded at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, entered the domestic marketplace April 13. George Kragie, president of Western Fresh Marketing in Madera, CA, said that the company was the first to receive a permit under new rules announced in the April 4 Federal Register governing the fruit’s importation.