Focus on finance

By Chartered Professional Accountants Manitoba

Pamela Kolochuk, CPA, CGA grew up on a dairy farm south of St. Claude in southern Manitoba. Her first job wasn't at a fast food outlet or department store – she picked strawberries in the Manitoba sunshine.

"I remember you got paid by the pail so you had to be a fast picker," Kolochuk recalls with a laugh. Perhaps it makes sense then that years later, she would be named CFO at Peak of the Market, the grower-owned not-for-profit vegetable supplier that has operated in Manitoba for 75 years.

But the path from filling single pails of strawberries to helping oversee an organization that ships thousands of pounds of vegetables all over the world would not be so obvious at first.

"Well for starters, when I was growing up I wanted to be a lawyer. That was my thing," she explains.

But while attending high school in Miami, Manitoba she took an accounting class.

"It was a grade 11 class and the teacher was great. I remember being very good at it and thinking that it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. After that, I decided that maybe I wanted to be an accountant instead," Kolochuk recalls.

By the time she enrolled at the University of Manitoba, she had made up her mind that accounting was going to be her focus.

"I stayed in residence my first year of university. It was a great way to meet lots of people and be involved with what was going on at the campus," she says.

After graduating with a double major in accounting, her first job was a brief stop with the Government of Canada.

"I got a job doing agricultural insurance claims. Although I was thankful for the opportunity, I discovered before long that it wasn't the right fit and I wanted something with a faster pace," Kolochuk shares.

She found that pace at Arnold Bros. Transport as a fuel accountant.

"I learned a lot and enjoyed my time there. Actually, I met my husband there. He was the IT manager," she explains.

Before long, Kolochuk was on the move again. This time she went to work for Cargill and it was there a few important things happened. "I got a lot of really great experience during that time learning about agriculture accounting, foreign exchange risk and operations. I also made some great friends and found a great mentor. The other important thing I did was begin work on my accounting designation," she says.

It was a busy time but three years later she had obtained her designation and was looking for her next challenge. She set her sights on a Masters of Business Administration through Laurentian University.

"I was working on my MBA when I got a call from Parrish & Heimbecker (a Canadian family-owned firm committed to agribusiness and the agri-food industry) who was looking for a controller."

Kolochuk would spend the next nine years there in different roles.

"Initially, there were only 12 of us in the office, including the President and VP. It was a really interesting and rewarding time to be there. Although it was a very established company when I was hired, we started growing and expanding at a fairly rapid pace as we sought to keep up with the changing agribusiness landscape. I ended up implementing a lot of month-end and quarterly reporting. HR and operations were also part of my responsibilities and working with the elevators and the staff was always rewarding. I also implemented a student summer program that is still in effect today," she recalls.

While at Parrish & Heimbecker, Kolochuk had two daughters. When she returned from maternity leave for the second time, the landscape in the company was changing.

"When I came back to work, the company was implementing a new financial and grain operations system and they asked if I wanted to be part of that project. I love projects and this was a big one that involved over 40 locations, five offices and four divisions that were consolidating into one. How could I say no?"

The two-year project saw Kolochuk travel a lot across Canada, mostly to places in Ontario.

"It was a very rewarding experience. I worked with an awesome team and met some great people along the way, including some who have since influenced my career path and continue to be mentors," she explains.

The software implementation was completed both on time and within budget, meeting all project objectives.

"It was such a high and when it was over, I was in something like ‘project depression'. I decided to take some time off to spend with my family and consider what I wanted to do next," she remembers.

What happened next was fairly unexpected.

"First I worked for about half a year for G3 Canada helping them with project management following their acquisition of the Canadian Wheat Board. After that I got a call from a friend who asked me to come work for him and his new app Pricerazzi."

Even though she had never worked for a tech start-up before, she liked the idea and decided to give it a try.

"It's a whole different experience at a company like that. Every day you are trying to survive and deal with investors and customers while building your processes and procedures from scratch."

Although she enjoyed her time there she eventually moved on and found another young tech-based company called Upfeat.

"Upfeat was interesting because they are based in Winnipeg but do business in Canada, the UK, Australia and the United States with employees and partners all over the world. We had to figure out business and tax rules in each country, along with their different employment rules and currencies."

With an impressive array of diverse work experience to pull from, Kolochuk has some advice for those considering a career in accounting.

"Do it. It should be your first choice because it opens up so many doors. I've done project management, operations, agriculture, tech and software implementation. I've also been able to volunteer and give back. I repelled down the RBC building as a part of Drop Zone and raised over $10,000 for the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities. I led a project at my children's school to fundraise and build a new $200,000 playground. I have a wide and diverse group of friends and colleagues. My accounting designation opened a lot of doors that led to those experiences."

Although Peak of the Market is focused on vegetables, it's easy to see how the woman who grew up on a dairy farm picking strawberries off the vine has found an opportunity that seems tailor-made for her.

Information to come soon.

Packed with pride

By Jennifer McFee

With an expertise in operations, Mark Zachanowich takes pride in the process of packing and distributing top-notch Peak of the Market vegetables.

For the past four years, Zachanowich has served as Vice President of Operations for the non-profit organization. In that role, he is responsible for overseeing the operations and development of the Peak of the Market distribution network, which includes distribution centres in both Winnipeg and Calgary.

At the Winnipeg distribution hub, one of the main tasks involves packaging all the Manitoba potatoes and onions to prepare for their delivery to retail customers.

"Typically, we'll pack several tractor trailer loads of Manitoba-grown potatoes every day," says Zachanowich, who studied marketing management at the University of North Dakota.

"Our most important market is Manitoba but we extend throughout Canada and the United States, with Alberta being our second largest Canadian market."

Two years ago, the distribution centre underwent a $4 million renovation, which included the installation of impressive state-of-the-art packaging equipment.

"We researched the most technologically advanced and accurate bagging, weighing and packing systems in the world. It's a testament to our board of directors, who are incredibly progressive with this major investment," Zachanowich says.

"During that development of the new packaging line, we actually developed a number of industry innovations that are now becoming industry standards."

These innovations include the addition of 12-foot high robots that gently stack the packaged potatoes and onions to ensure the best possible quality. As well, an extendable and retractable conveyor was specifically designed to extend out to the trucks to prevent the bruising of potatoes during delivery.

"Throughout the development of this entire packaging line, our focus was to put the best possible product in the bag for our customers. To me, it's incredibly rewarding to be selling quality vegetables to Manitoba, the rest of Canada and the United States. Everybody wants to be identified with a reputable label, and that's exactly what Peak of the Market is," says Zachanowich.

"We work for the local growers, making sure that we handle their product effectively and getting it out to the stores quickly. There's a great communication between the distribution centre and all the growers, who are constantly striving to get better, and we see that in the product. I think our product is of the highest quality that you can get, and we're very proud of that."

For Zachanowich, the growers are the key component in the entire process.

"We wouldn't be here without the growers," he says. "The Manitoba growers are the reason that Peak of the Market exists."

Quality is key

By Jennifer McFee

Quality is key for Dr. Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, who works with vegetable growers to optimize production for Peak of the Market.

With a specialization in plant pathology, she is ideally suited for her position of research and quality enhancement director.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Shinners-Carnelley always knew she wanted to work in agriculture. While attending agricultural college, she got a taste of plant pathology during an introductory plant science course.

"I instantly fell in love with it. There was something amazing about suddenly having an awareness of this microscopic life that is out there," she says. "For me, it was very exciting to look into a microscope and see these fungi and then put it all together in terms of how it fits in with crop production."

She pursued her passion and completed a PhD in plant science with a specialty in plant pathology at the University of Alberta.

When she first started at Peak of the Market in 2009, she mainly worked with growers to overcome quality issues while also providing support with production.

Since then, her position has evolved to also incorporate research projects at a Winkler-based facility that opened last year.

"We're looking at research in ways to optimize production practices in both fertility and in disease and pest management," she says.

"Our focus is also on variety evaluation. Growers are always interested in knowing about the new varieties that have improvements over the current ones - maybe they have higher yield, they require less fertility, better quality or better taste."

Not only does the research centre provide a hub for projects, it's also an ideal venue to meet with growers and other industry stakeholders.

"Everyone's interested in research and innovation," she says. "It's a great way to come together to talk about our interests and how to work together on research and innovation for mutual benefit."

She also spends plenty of time working from her home-based office in Carman, which provides a centralized location for visiting growers in the fields all the way from Winkler to Portage la Prairie.

"I've definitely seen improvements over the time that I've been with Peak of the Market. I attribute that to the great group of growers that we have as part of the Peak of the Market family," says Shinners-Carnelley, who enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.

"It's really exciting to have the opportunity to work with these growers who are always willing to take on a challenge. I'm always learning something from them and I hope that they can learn something from me as well. It's through our shared experience that we go forward together."

Dauphin's Whitmore no Couch Potato

By Jennifer McFee

Starting from when he was a wee sprout, Dave Whitmore's interest in farming grew from the ground up.

For the past 22 years, Whitmore has worked for Peak of the Market, launching his career as a sales representative and rising through the ranks to become vice-president of sales.

But his knowledge of farming took root in Dauphin, where he was raised on a farm that had been in his family for more than 100 years. Along with his four brothers and one sister, he gained hands-on experience on the family's grain farm — as well as in a huge garden where they grew a bounty of veggies for canning and storage.

As a youngster, he even honed his skills at digging and packing potatoes by hand for a local potato producer in Dauphin.

This experience adds to his well-rounded approach in his current role of overseeing Peak of the Market's sales and transportation departments.

"I'm working with customers from all over North America and setting up arrangements with them," said Whitmore, who studied business administration in Brandon. "I set pricing every week by looking at the markets from across North America to make sure that we're competitive but at the same time getting the best possible return for our growers."

Over the years, he's seen plenty of changes in the industry. However, one thing that remains the same is his strong connection with his customers.

"You talk to them often and a lot of them become you're best friends. I communicate with them more than family sometimes," Whitmore said.

"Our job is to make their job easy. So if they can buy product from us without any hassles and they get the price, quality and service they want, then we're doing our job."

With similar sentiment, Whitmore also lauds the sense of teamwork at Peak of the Market.

"We're like a family," he said. "Everybody gets along so well here — and not only with our co-workers but with the growers as well. They're a fantastic group of people to work with."

Outside of office hours, Whitmore enjoys spending time with his wife Pat and is looking forward to their upcoming 32nd wedding anniversary. He also appreciates time with his sons, Kevin and Kurtis. And when he has the chance, he indulges in life's simple pleasures such as watching movies, going for bike rides, cheering at Jets games and walking his "small dog with a big name" — a five-pound Yorkie named Bowser.

Information to come soon.

Daily diversity

By Jennifer McFee

At Peak of the Market, new adventures crop up every day. And for sales representative Barb Sobocan, this daily diversity keeps the job fresh.

"It's always different. It's never the same old grind," she says. "I like that it changes every day and I also like dealing with the people."

Since she started working for Peak of the Market six years ago, Sobocan has dedicated her time and energy to building relationships with customers and coworkers alike.

"There are some customers who I've dealt with since I started here, so we have a bond and we know each other quite well," she says. "Peak of the Market is a good company. Everybody knows everybody. We don't go through staff changes very often, which says a lot."

Someone once told her that if you wake up in the morning and regret having to go to work, then your workplace is not right for you. Thankfully for Sobocan, she feels glad to go to work each day at the grower-owned non-profit.

"We all show up at the same place every day," she says, "so that says something about the company."

Before starting at Peak of the Market, Sobocan honed her skills in produce receiving and produce buying.

"I've done the receiving, the buying and now the selling," she says. "By far, this is the most challenging role — which is a good thing."

Outside of work, Sobocan travels whenever and wherever possible with her husband, Matthew.

"We go everywhere we can. In the States, we've been to Chicago, Pittsburgh and, of course, Grand Forks all the time. We also have gone to Mexico and on European tours and boat cruises," she says. "We try to travel wherever we can."

The Monday morning test

By Jennifer McFee

For sales manager Richard Fredette, his work at Peak of the Market continues to pass the Monday morning test.

"If I get up on Monday morning and I don't want to come to work, then it's not the job for me. But I always get up on Monday morning and want to come to work at Peak of the Market. I love working here," he says.

"I consider my job like a waterslide. I come in and I don't stop until the slide's over. I really enjoy the fast pace."

Another aspect he appreciates is the diversity of daily interactions.

"I like being able to deal with so many different types of people from all around North America," says Fredette, who has also worked as distribution centre supervisor, transport manager and sales representative at Peak of the Market.

"I also talk with the growers several times a day. They're very understanding -they understand what their business is and what we need to do to make it work. It's easy dealing with them because they're such hands-on people."

And when the growers succeed, Fredette shares in the joy of a job well done.

"I get pleasure in selling the growers' products and I like to see that what I did made a difference," he says.

"A lot of people take for granted what they get on the store shelves, but the growers work really hard to make sure their product is good quality, which makes it a lot easier to sell. They are true professionals."

When Fredette first applied at the non-profit organization, the CEO asked him if he was looking for a home.

"I said that I was looking for a place to retire, and lo and behold 16 years later, I'm still here. There are a lot of people who have been here for many years," says Fredette, who enjoys spending time with his family and playing sports in his free time.

"So many companies turn over a lot of people in sales, and we don't do that. We have a really close-knit group here and it works well. Peak of the Market is a very unique company. It's a family-based organization and it's a very nice place to work."

Fostering friendships at work and beyond

By Jennifer McFee

Doug Deally is sold on the notion of viewing his customers as friends through his work at Peak of the Market.

Dedicated to his role as a sales representative, Doug has enjoyed the time to get to know his customers over the past 15 years he has spent working for the non-profit organization.

"I have a lot of customers who I really enjoy talking to and miss when we're not connecting," he says. "I've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of them in person, and it makes it more satisfying. On a personal level, you can build friendships and not just business relationships. I've had the fortune of breaking bread with a lot them, and there are still more who I want to meet."

His commitment is clear to his customers, especially since Doug will even answer their calls while on holidays.

"We've known each other so long that it's like if a friend called me on my holidays, I'd take the call," he says. "I often try to combine work with holidays. For example, I have family in southern Ontario but I have a large amount of customers in southern Ontario as well. So if I'm going out there for holidays, I'll try to meet with them. I've been to some of their homes and met their families, so it's like I'm just going to spend some time with another friend."

At the same time, Doug has developed a bond with co-workers he sees every day at Peak of the Market.

"It's kind of interesting because it's like a group of friends that you've had for a long time," he says. "Sometimes you're catching up and seeing what's going on, even though it's only been over night since you last saw each other."

When he's not on the job, Doug also enjoys connecting with friends and family.

"I have a great group of friends outside of work. I've known some for 30-plus years, so even if I don't talk to them for a month at a time, it's like we just talked the day before. It's that easy. We try to do things together, whether it's just to sit on a patio and catch up in the summertime or to go over to a friend's house and watch a football game," he said. "And, of course, family helps you with that too. My family is well spread out from B.C. to Ontario, but my parents are still here so it's definitely a weekly occurrence to visit with them."

In addition to his social endeavours, Doug enjoys tackling tasks around the house.

"It gives you a sense of accomplishment and worth," he says. "You have something to show for all your hard work — and that same concept applies to the job too."

Information to come soon.

Information to come soon.

Enjoyment In Employment

By Jennifer McFee

Variety is key for Sherry Lee, who juggles a little bit of everything in her diverse role as Peak of the Market's office manager.

Lee is no newcomer to working with the grower-owned vegetable supplier, since she started off in a temporary position in 2002. She fit in so well with the team that she was hired on full-time later that same year — and she has remained a valued employee with the non-profit organization ever since then.

In her role as office manager, Lee is always ready to hit the ground running since no two days are ever the same. "I like that there's something different almost every day. You can only plan a little bit of what you're going to do the next day because something always comes up — and I like that. I enjoy the challenge that those last-minute things bring," she says.

"I have learned on the fly. You pick up a little from everything you do and hopefully you just keep on learning. And, of course, without the great people, the job wouldn't be nearly as fun."

One of her detailed-oriented duties is to take care of the payroll of approximately 60 people while also remaining involved in the management of the six-member office staff team.

Ready to help, Lee is also always on hand to work with the growers as needed. "I love interacting with the growers and helping whenever they have questions."

When she's not at work, Lee enjoys her big yard that takes up much of her time. She also spends plenty of fun moments with her constant companion, a beloved beagle named Jack.

Whether she's at home or on the job, Lee endeavours to find enjoyment in all that she does.

"At Peak of the Market, we work hard, but you have to find the laughter in everything," she says with a chuckle. "And we certainly do share a lot of laughs."

Delight in the details

By Jennifer McFee

There is delight in the details for "food safety guru" Grant Hackman.

For the past 16 years, Hackman has been Peak of the Market's manager of training and quality assurance. Through this role, he has worked with other groups to develop a farm food safety program which continues to improve every year.

"I enjoy it because I get a large variety in my workday. I get to spend time visiting growers, so I'm on the road a fair bit and it's quite nice," he says. "I get to meet a lot of different people and interact with the growers and their families. I also do training often with the growers' employees on food safety."

His position provides a unique perspective of the many facets involved in the operation.

"You get a real birds-eye view of where there are issues and where things are going great. A lot of attitudes and procedures have changed in regard to how we look at food safety and handling food. I see that when I work with the growers' staff and with my Peak co-workers," says Hackman, who has a commerce degree and has taken additional food science courses. "Everyone has become so much more aware of issues. We're so much better at communicating in regard to what's appropriate and not appropriate with handling food."

Through his work at Peak of the Market, Hackman can even keep tabs on issues that affect other parts of the country.

"I learn so much by working with other people in the industry right across Canada. Everybody's got a different perspective," he says. "So I see different issues here than someone who lives in Quebec or Nova Scotia. You get a real feel for what everybody has to deal with across the country in the produce industry."

Outside of work, Hackman keeps busy with a well-rounded range of hobbies, including bike riding, downhill skiing and music. These days, he enjoys attending concerts and musicals, as well as strumming his own guitar and singing.

And after 16 years with Peak of the Market, he also continues to find enjoyment in his employment.

"I'm proud to work with the team here and I'm proud to say where I work," he says. "It's a great group of people and it's the best job to have."

A driving force in delivery

By Jennifer McFee

As a transportation manager for Peak of the Market, Bev Krystik is a driving force behind the delivery of the company’s prime produce all across the continent.

Krystik joined the Peak of the Market team in July 2001 and recently celebrated her 15-year anniversary with the grower-owned organization — but her work with the not-for-profit began even earlier than that.

"I actually started working for Peak of the Market before I was a Peak employee. I was repairing pallets down on the dock for another company," she says.

"That’s how I started, and I always observed what was going on. One day, a position came up for a distribution clerk and I decided to apply. So I got into the office and moved up from there."

Over time, she began to fill in for the transportation manager whenever he went on holidays.

"I would be left in charge, trembling at the thought of taking on what seemed to be a daunting task and a tremendous responsibility. I must have done OK, though, because when that position opened up, they convinced me to take it," she says. "I’ve never looked back and I’ve loved it ever since. I just can’t wait to get here most days."

Serving as one of two transportation managers for Peak of the Market, Krystik now spends her days co-ordinating the movement of produce throughout North America. Her responsibilities also include hiring the trucks and making sure that they load and deliver on schedule.

"Every day is a new day. You never know what’s going to hit you when you walk in the door," she says. "It’s ever changing, which is fun. I really like that aspect."

Krystik also enjoys the camaraderie among the co-workers she sees every day.

"We share a great big open-concept office between the sales department and the transportation department, so we are really together all day, every day," she says. "Our group is quite tight, which makes it a really nice work environment."

When she’s not at work, Krystik enjoys spending lots of time with her family and pursuing her hobbies of decorating, gardening and music.

"I like to shift gears (no pun intended) and do something completely different from what I do during the day," she says. "But when it comes to work, you have to love your job. I feel very lucky that I have a job that I love to do."

Winnipeg's Farrar is Fuelled by Challenge

By Jennifer McFee

For transportation manager Audrey Farrar, it's the daily challenges that fuel her passion for her work at Peak of the Market.

"What keeps me motivated are the day-to-day duties. I love to co-ordinate hiring the trucks and arranging for export inspections when they're required. I like making sure the product is getting loaded and getting to the destination on time," she says.

"But I also like when there's a challenge, like when a truck breaks down. The best part of my job is finding a solution for everything that's thrown at me. That's what I enjoy. It gives an interesting twist to my day. We all like to have a little bit of variety in our day, so it's nice to have those small challenges to resolve."

Soon Farrar will celebrate her nine-year anniversary with Peak of the Market, where she manages the movement of produce throughout North America.

"I have to ensure that the export documents are completed and that we comply with any U.S. regulations," she says. "That's really important for my job. I'm the other driving force behind the company's produce. I oversee the U.S. and Eastern Canadian outbound trucks."

Before coming to Peak of the Market, Farrar honed her skills in the freight forwarding industry for more than two decades.

"It took years of education to get in to freight forwarding, and I stayed there for 22 years, but I just needed something different," says Farrar, who has taken courses in professional freight forwarding, logistics and transportation management.

"I wanted something less corporate and more family-oriented, and now I really enjoy what I'm doing. There's never a dull moment in the transportation industry, that's for sure."

Outside the office, Farrar looks forward to spending time with her family and friends.

"Probably my favourite thing is being on the water fishing, enjoying the sunshine and appreciating the sounds of nature all around me," she says.

"If I can't get away for the weekend, I like to teach my grandkids how to appreciate the soil and get their hands dirty."

The maestro of the market

By Jennifer McFee

Operations manager Scott Jamieson sometimes envisions himself like the maestro of Peak of the Market's distribution centre as he conducts the flow of day-to-day product coming in and out of the D.C.

"I try to make sure that the right people are in the right place in the Distribution Centre. When shifting somebody from one area to another, a big part of my job is to make sure that we're getting everything done on a timely basis," he says. "There's a lot of co-ordinating to do, which is part of the excitement."

Jamieson got his start at Peak of the Market as a supervisor, honing his skills for eight years. He then pursued other opportunities for a while but he was drawn back to the non-profit organization six years ago, this time as the operations manager.

"It's a bit of a unique position. I deal with everybody: the growers, the customers, sales, transport and accounting," he says. "Everybody is so wonderful to deal with, especially our growers. Our growers are our reason for us being here. They understand the business and they understand what needs to done."

In addition to the growers, Jamieson gives credit to the rest of the talented team that works cohesively together at Peak of the Market.

"Without a doubt in my mind, we absolutely have some of the best shippers, receivers and machine operators that there are anywhere. They have so much experience and they know their jobs," says Jamieson.

"Some of my co-workers have been here between 15 and 45 years, so they've got a lot of experience, a lot of tenure and a lot of knowledge about vegetables. It's quite an accomplishment and it speaks volumes about our workplace. It's just amazing."

While not at work, Jamieson enjoys spending time with his family and tackling home improvement projects in his spare time.

From Barbados to Winnipeg?

By Jennifer McFee

Adrian Absalom is living proof that perseverance pays off.

Currently, he is excelling in the role as operations manager for Peak of the Market, but Adrian worked his way up with 12 years of determination and hard work.

"I started at Peak of the Market as a shipper-receiver. Then the opportunity for a supervisor position came up, and I took advantage of that and gained a lot of experience in that role with the company," he said.

"Recently, the operations manager opportunity came up and I applied. I guess they were happy with what I did for the years that I've been here and saw me as a good person to help steer the company where it needs to be in the future."

Originally from Barbados, Adrian owned his own roof tiling company in his home country. Through his entrepreneurial efforts, he gained skills in customer service, bookkeeping and all the other aspects involved in running a business.

Now he continues to draw on those skills in his day-to-day role at Peak of the Market.

"Every day, I'm responsible to make sure that people are scheduled and running the packaging machines," he said. "I order all the produce that we pack and the supplies that we use for packaging."

For Adrian, he thrives on the busy nature of the work.

"At times it can be quite busy, but I do enjoy the pace. It makes the day go by quickly. I also enjoy the people that I work with. It's a delicate balance between helping them to enjoy what they do but also making sure that we meet the needs of the company and our customers," he said.

"We have fun. Some days are challenging and we have to put our noses to the grind and buckle down to get everything done. Other days are a little bit quieter and we have time to catch up."

When he's not busy overseeing the packaging operations at Peak of the Market, Adrian likes to run for fun — even in the colder months.

"I like to get out and get some fresh air, so I like to go running at the Forks since I live in the area. I don't like to stop in the winter," said Adrian, who tries to visit Barbados every year. "The winter can seem a little long, so if you can get out there and enjoy the outdoors, it makes it feel a little bit shorter to me."

Even when he is on the job, Adrian has no problem finding ways to relish the work. "Peak of the Market is a great place to work. If you get the opportunity to apply for a job here, you would be blessed because there is lots of opportunity and the people are wonderful to work with," he said.

"It's been awesome for me. The opportunity has been great. I've learned a lot and I enjoy working here. I look forward to many more years and seeing where things are going to grow from here. I am pleased to have experienced Peak of the Market not only in the business of growing vegetables but also employees and careers."

From Culinary Quests to Quality Control

By Jennifer McFee

Bethany Alards is taking a bite out of the food industry with an appetite to become an expert in everything from culinary quests to quality control.

Peak of the Market recently developed a brand new role for a quality control manager, and Alards has proven to be the perfect person to fill the position.

"My job is to ensure that what we're bringing in and shipping out is the best quality. I spend a lot of my time in the cooler double-checking and making sure that everything meets our customers' requirements," she says. "It's a unique role that involves a lot of communication with our sales team."

For Alards, her interest in food has been simmering since childhood when her family couldn't keep her out of the kitchen.

"I've always been a cook and a baker. Ever since I was nine or 10, I was cooking supper for my family. I can only imagine how many heart attacks I gave my mother," she says with a laugh.

"I followed that passion and dream to take the culinary arts program at Red River College, but I found that it wasn't exactly what I wanted to do as a career. I wanted it more to be a hobby, so I switched it up and got into food science — and it really was the best decision ever."

Alards pursued the science-based degree at the University of Manitoba, where she developed skills that led her to work in different manufacturing environments.

"There's lots of opportunity for people with a food science degree. Any food manufacturing facility really needs to have someone that knows food science," she says. "You learn about food safety plans and quality control."

Since she stepped into her role as Peak of the Market's quality control manager, she's been impressed to see the automated enhancements used by the not-for-profit organization.

"Our whole packaging line got revamped to minimize impact and bruising," she says, adding that this area also falls under the broad umbrella of quality control. "We have two robots that will palletize the packaged product in a way to minimize impact and bruising on the potatoes and onions, which we pack here. These robotic arms will lift the final package and place it gently on the pallet in a predetermined configuration so it minimizes any kind of product damage."

All in all, Alards is thrilled to have the opportunity to apply her skills in the newly developed position.

"I like that each day is different and you never really know what's going to happen. I also really enjoy the people I work with. They're such a great group, and they welcomed me here, making me feel very accepted and at home," said Alards, who enjoys camping with her 10-year-old daughter, four-year-old son and husband.

"It's not a one-person show by any means. Everyone plays a role in the quality and I am the go-to person who will be a champion for it. There has been lots of positive feedback from the growers about my new role."

Sharing the Bounty

By Jennifer McFee

Duane Hood sees plenty of veggies make their way through Peak of the Market's distribution centre in Calgary, and he feels good knowing that some of the healthy fare is headed to those who need it most.

"One thing I really like about working here is that we donate to food banks and that's really satisfying," says Hood, Calgary's distribution centre manager.

Peak of the Market's Farm to School fundraising program makes it possible to share the bounty of fresh and healthy vegetables, he explains. Families are choosing to purchase a bundle of vegetable to donate to their local food bank and give to those less fortunate.

"About three months ago, we got a letter from the Calgary Food Bank saying that we had donated over 200,000 pounds of food to them. Since then, we've probably added another 50,000 to 60,000 pounds. That's a good feeling."

"Through the Farm to School fundraiser, schools sell veggies and keep half the money while the other half goes to growers," Hood says.

"Today, I've got five skids going up to the Edmonton food bank. Later this week, I've got three or four more being picked up for the Calgary food bank. Peak of the Market is a company that tries to help others, and that's something that really attracted me to it."

Since he started working for the grower-owned co-operative about five months ago, Hood has adapted quickly to become part of the Peak of the Market family.

"I've been running various warehouses for 25 years, so when this opportunity came up, it was a good time for me," he says.

"I love it here. It's been great. There's a really good group of people here and it's a great environment. All the people in Winnipeg have been fantastic too. I also like the aspect of working for a farmers co-op and a not-for-profit company."

There's never a dull moment at the bustling distribution centre, so Hood's plate is always full - particularly during harvest time.

"I start my day very, very early. We service the Calgary area and we also service Edmonton and Vancouver," he says. "Basically, we unload trucks and load trucks. We pick orders and get the items to the stores for customers. Right now, it's really busy."

And when he's not working hard, Hood enjoys playing hard too.

"My hobbies are fishing, bike riding and hiking. I like to spend a lot of time in the mountains," he says. "I also spend time with my family. My oldest daughter and my grandkids live about three blocks from us, so I spend a lot of time with them. Of course, I always enjoy spending time with my wife Teresa. We have a great life together."