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CPMA names Murray Driediger as 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Murray Driediger, the president and CEO of BC Fresh Vegetables Inc., has been named the 2024 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the fresh produce industry.

“[Driediger’s] achievements and contributions to the produce supply chain make him one of the renowned key industry leaders in Canada,” CPMA officials said in an April 4 news release.

Driediger’s career spans over 40 years, and started at his family’s business, Driediger Bros. Farms Ltd., in 1979, where he worked as the managing partner. In this role, he transitioned the company from a focus on growing fruit for processors to one focused on growing for the fresh market. Over time, he developed a supply network of over 40 growers as well as a distribution network for six fruit commodities throughout North America.

Since then, he has held various senior roles within the industry. As BC Vegetable Marketing Commission’s general manager, Driediger helped guide the significant expansion in the root crop and greenhouse sectors, as sales increased from $69 million when he joined in 1997 to $300 million. In 2005, he moved into the role of president of the Golden Eagle Group, one of the largest agriculture operations in Canada, covering 4,800 acres.

He then joined BC Fresh in 2007 as president and CEO, where he has remained for the past 17 years. “He transitioned the company from an on-farm distribution model to a central distribution network resulting in two warehouse expansions in the last 14 years,” CPMA said. “Under his leadership, the company has grown sales exponentially and now markets and distributes an expanded produce offering from 60 farms, consisting of 8,000 acres and 95,000 tons in annual produce sales.”

Additionally, Driediger has served on several boards, including CPMA, the North American Tomato Trade Working Group, the Canada-US Potato Committee, and the BC Strawberry Growers Association. His contributions to the industry have earned him accolades such as the The Packer’s Canadian Produce Person of the Year Award in 2018, and the British Columbia Produce Marketing Association’s 2017 Produce Person of the Year Award.

Driediger will be presented with this award alongside other industry members and businesses at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show’s Awards Brunch on April 25 in Vancouver.