Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Hire General Manager

Cathy Lennon has been hired as General Manager of Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG), a non-profit organization for producers of 14 vegetable crops for the canning, freezing and pickling industry.
Lennon is known to many in the processing vegetable industry through the Processing Vegetable Industry Conference Committee, having participated on the cross-sector committee since 2007, and currently sitting as Chair.

Lennon comes to OPVG with 20 years of experience in a variety of roles in the Ontario agricultural industry, most recently as a senior lender with the Agri-Business & Agri-Food division of Farm Credit Canada. Prior to FCC, she held roles with Agricorp as Program Manager for the CAIS program, General Manager of the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency and Program & Communications Coordinator for the Agricultural Adaptation Council. Lennon is a graduate of Fanshawe College, University of Waterloo and the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program.
 
The hiring committee which included appointed board Trustee Elmer Buchanan, Bill Ingratta, consultant and three Ontario growers was unanimous in its decision to hire Cathy to lead the organization going forward. “She has a broad based knowledge of the agricultural industry and is well-known and respected by growers, staff and industry stakeholders” says Buchanan. “Her professionalism, passion for the industry and demonstrated ability to establish and build relationships are what set her apart from other candidates” said Buchanan.

Cathy will begin in her new role as General Manager for OPVG September 18th, upon return from travel to South Africa and Swaziland. Elmer Buchanan, who has served as OPVG Trustee, appointed by the Ontario government in March of 2017, will depart upon appointment and election of OPVG Board of Directors this fall.
 
About Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers
OPVG is a non-profit organization representing the 450 growers across Ontario who produce tomatoes, green peas, sweet corn, green and wax beans, cucumbers, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lima beans, onions, peppers, pumpkin and squash for the canning, freezing and pickling industry. Ontario's processing vegetable sector is an economic driver for the province of Ontario generating nearly $100 million in gross farm receipts annually. The organization is engaged negotiation of prices, terms and conditions of sale for the identified crops, as well as research coordination, and promotion of the processing vegetable sector.