The Toronto Congress Centre was this year's location for the Grocery Innovations Canada (Oct 26-27, 2009). The annual show is presented by the non-profit trade association Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), which represents over 4,000 grocery retailers across Canada. .
This event was an outstanding success and pickOntario was exhibiting to increase exposure within retail grocery stores which represent a significant distribution of cut flowers and potted plants. Grocery Innovations Canada provided an excellent venue to network and promote the benefits of Ontario grown floriculture. Dean Shoemaker, pickOntario Marketing Manager, commented: "Thanks to Rosa Flora Limited's product donation, we were able to hand out gerbera daisy stems to over 1000 attendees. There were pink gerberas everywhere!" He added, "Next year, pickOntario hopes to recruit a number of growers to attend this event and put on an even bigger display of locally grown product."
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Hon. Leona Dombrowsky as well as the Deputy Minister, George Zegarac stopped by to greet the pickOntario team. Both were presented with a fresh, locally grown bouquet of flowers as a thank you for their ongoing support of the greenhouse floriculture industry.
The floral display was designed by Albert Graves and featured product from Sunrise Greenhouses Ltd, Balfour Greenhouses Ltd, Cosmic Plants Inc., Van Geest Brothers Ltd, and Timbereno Flowers Ltd.
