A fairytale setting, natural wonders, a James Bond 007-themed party and a children’s program to entertain younger family members while parents network promise to help make the 2015 Quebec Produce Marketing Association Convention one of the best ever.

Lucky are the people that will be attending the three-day convention, which runs Aug. 20-22 in Quebec City and is referred to as the “industry event of the year” by organizers.The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is the site of the 68th annual Quebec Produce Marketing Association convention, Aug. 20-22.

It is the 68th annual QPMA convention. The first such convention was  held in 1947.

“People will be traveling from across Canada and the United States to attend the convention, including Florida and California growers,” said Anne-Emilie Thibault, communications and member relations coordinator at QPMA. “Anyone that does business with the Quebec produce industry has an interest in attending the convention.”

The convention offers numerous networking opportunities for the trade. Hundreds of organizations in the fruit and vegetable industry will be together to create and renew friendships and business relationships.

The 2015 venue is one of the most beautiful and historic locations in Quebec, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel in Quebec City. “Chateau” is French for “castle” and the setting certainly suggests a regal experience. The convention includes a variety of business events as well as social activities. The theme this year is “A Healthy Industry, A Shared Responsibility.”   

Thibault is very enthusiastic about this year’s convention, and noted that it is the second year the children’s program is in place to accommodate members that want to bring their families.

The idea grew from QPMA members’ interest in having something for their children to do while delegates are busy networking.

“We are like a very big warm family,” said Thibault. “We’ve seen the children grow up coming to these conventions, so it was a natural progression to integrate a children’s program into the QPMA’s annual convention. It will be extraordinary and children will be able to see some exotic animals. We have a program for two age groups — one for children aged 4 to 9, and another for children aged 10 to 14.”

The convention will include a New Product Showcase, where members get the opportunity to exhibit new products.

On the business side of the convention, the first day starts with the executive committee meeting at 8 a.m. Delegate registration opens at 11 a.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. The board of directors meeting, reserved for board members, takes up Thursday afternoon from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

After that, delegates get ready to party as the convention kicks off with a reception from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The old Musee de L’Amerique Francophone chapel (it was deconsecrated in 1992) will open its doors so delegates can celebrate the opening of the convention in this otherworldly setting, with an evening of cocktails, dancing and networking. The location on the Seminaire de Quebec historical site, is a convenient five-minute walk from the Chateau Frontenac. The museum traces French-speaking history in North America.  

On Friday, delegates will have a choice of participating in one of three activities. The first option is a gourmet tour of the Ile d’Orleans (Island of Orleans), an area with an enchanting blend of agro-tourism and amazing scenery. This option includes a visit to breathtaking Montmorency Falls.

The second option is a fitness-focused tour around Quebec City called Quebec Fit & Fun, which will break into different groups to accommodate different fitness levels.

The third choice,which is already sold out,  is a tasting workshop called Ateliers & Saveurs, which includes a cooking class, a cocktails/mixology session and a wine tasting.

Dinner and dancing is on the menu Friday night at a James Bond 007-themed party. The party will end at 2 a.m., but members will be getting down to business at the annual general meeting of QPMA membership at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The annual meeting is followed by a session on Issues in E-commerce at 9 a.m., followed by a talk by neuroscientist Sonia Lupien about how to deal with stress on the job.

The sessions are followed by an industry brunch, where the latest spinoffs will be announced from the I Love 5 to 10 Servings a Day campaign, which marks its 10th anniversary this year.

The convention wraps up with a closing banquet Saturday evening that will pay homage to the 2015 Pillar of the Industry in Quebec.