Symposium Overview

The Half Your Plate Symposium for Health Professionals provides dietitians and health professionals with key learning and networking opportunities from some of the top nutrition and produce industry experts, to help Canadians improve their fruit and vegetable consumption for better health.

Hosted in conjunction with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's (CPMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show, Half Your Plate is proud to partner with Dietitians of Canada this year.

Register today

Registration fees

  • Early bird rate (By March 6, 2026): $50 + tax
  • Student rate: $50 + tax
  • Regular rate: $70 + tax

This fee includes presentations, morning snacks, lunch, and access to the CPMA Trade Show.

Why Should You Attend?

  • Learn from nutrition experts: Gain practical strategies to reduce household produce waste, explore the science behind fruits and vegetables and longevity, discover consumer insights, and more
  • Connect with industry leaders:  Learn directly from the produce industry about the Canadian produce marketplace and explore hot topics, like innovation, food prices, sustainability, AI, tariff challenges, and other factors shaping the produce world
  • Discover & taste what’s new:  Explore exciting new fruit and vegetable products, sample delicious recipes from Canadian chefs, and get answers to common consumer questions – all at CPMA’s Trade Show, Canada’s largest fruit and vegetable trade show ($1,300 value)
  • Grow your network: Connect in-person with fellow health professionals and key leaders from the produce industry 

Who can register?

This session is intended for health professionals and students in a healthcare field, including dietitians, home economists, and nutrition managers. If upon review you do not meet the criteria as indicated above, your registration fees will be refunded. 

Agenda

Download the agenda
(Subject to change without notice)

Program highlights:

Getty Stewart, PHec, Food Educator, Author

We all want to eat more fruits and veggies, but even our best intentions can wilt in the crisper drawer. Learn simple, realistic tips you can share with clients to help them keep produce fresh, waste less, and enjoy more of what they buy. Practical, affordable and easy for busy families.

Getty Stewart is one of Canada’s leading voices in reducing food waste at home. A professional home economist, food educator and author, she helps families select, store and enjoy fresh produce with more confidence, less waste and more joy.

Andy De Santis, RD, MPH, Author

Blending population-level evidence with metabolic and physiological research, this presentation explores fruits and vegetables as longevity “superfoods” – revealing how much to eat, which options are surprisingly powerful, and whether some deserve top priority for long-term health.

Andy is a private practice + social media dietitian, 11x published author and knowledge seeker in the world of nutrition. Driven by a desire to combine private client work with reaching broader audiences with evidence-based messaging via social media, Andy has a passion for highlighting the unique nutritional value of foods and build excitement around their inclusion in people's lives. A master's graduate from the University Of Toronto Dalla Lana School Of Public Health, Andy started his career at Diabetes Canada before turning to a life of private practice, social media, writing and more. 

Greg Palmer, VP of Trade Market Development, CPMA

From local fields to global supply chains, this presentation will take health professionals inside the fast-moving world of fresh produce. Discover what’s grown in Canada, what’s imported, how seasons and supply chain challenges impact availability, and how these factors shape what ends up on your plate.  Packed with real-world insights, this presentation will sharpen your understanding of the produce industry when speaking with clients.  

Greg Palmer joined CPMA as the Vice President of Trade and Marketing Development in July of 2024. His responsibilities include finding new members for CPMA, member retention through membership value development and finding revenue through sponsorships from their member base. Lately Greg spends a lot of time abroad working with producers who are looking to scale their business in the Canadian marketplace. Prior to joining CPMA, Greg was a retail procurement director in produce for the two largest Canadian retail companies, Costco Wholesale then Loblaw. Before that he worked in food safety for Costco and was in a Manager in Training program in store for Costco. All of this led him to receive CPMA’s Young Professional of the year in 2023. He has also completed IFPA’s Emerging Leaders program and their Young Leaders Program and has been a mentor for a number of other young professionals in the fresh produce space. He has also co-chaired CPMA’s DE&I working group and has been an inaugural member of OPMA’s Young Professional Network. Greg received his undergraduate degree from Dalhousie University majoring in Biology and Psychology and obtained a certificate in Animal Behavior. Outside of work Greg enjoys cooking, travelling and hiking with his husband. He performs semi-professionally in musicals and is a self-proclaimed cinephile. 

Learn about the dynamic supply chain that brings fresh produce to millions of Canadians daily. Join industry leaders from the greenhouse sector, vegetable fields, and wholesale distribution, as they share insights on the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the produce industry. From climate change and rising costs to tariff pressures and cutting-edge innovation, discover how the produce industry is adapting to stay ahead, to bring fresh, affordable produce to Canadians. 

Sue Mah, MHSc, RD, PHEc, FDC, Founder of Nutrition Solutions
(Moderator)

Sue is a multiple award-winning dietitian and Founder of Nutrition Solutions, a global nutrition communications consulting agency. With a 25+ year career as an inspiring media dietitian, nutrition educator and speaker, Sue has appeared in over 500 media features including Breakfast Television, CBC News and CTV Your Morning. She was an instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University and today, Sue continues to media train and mentor dietitians. In recognition of her work, Sue was the 2019 recipient of the C.P. Shah Alumni Award for Excellence in Public Health from the University of Toronto. Sue is also a Fellow of the Dietitians of Canada.

Alexa Hambly-Galbraith, Business Operations Manager, Gwillimdale Farms

Alexa is the Senior Business Operations Manager and a 5th generation family member of Gwillimdale Farms Ltd., an operation deeply rooted in tradition, community, and innovation. She supports strategic growth and organizational development and is passionate about education, sustainability of the agri-food system, and connecting consumers with the realities of food production.

Stephan Schmekel, EVP Sales and Marketing, North American Produce Buyers

...

Jay Willmot, Founder & CEO, Haven Greens

Jay Willmot brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of clean energy, law, and agriculture. He holds a Master of Environmental Studies in Energy Systems and Global Policy and a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, with a specialization in environmental and energy law. Prior to founding Haven Greens, he served as General Counsel and Board Director at Solar Provider Group, advising on renewable energy projects, M&A, and project finance. 
As President of Kinghaven Farms, a family-run farm with deep roots in Ontario’s horse racing history, Jay has guided its transformation into a diverse and sustainability-focused operation—expanding into solar energy, apiculture, egg production, and regenerative land management. 
Building on that legacy, Jay founded Haven Greens in 2020, launching Canada’s most advanced fully automated greenhouse. With a vision to reimagine how fresh food is grown, Haven Greens brings together cutting-edge technology, clean energy, and responsible agriculture. The state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility grows fresh, flavourful, pesticide-free lettuce year-round, with net-zero operations at its core. 
Across everything he does, Jay is driven by a commitment to doing things differently—thoughtfully, sustainably, and always with the future in mind. 

Canada’s Largest Fruit and Vegetable Trade Show

Discover new fruit and vegetable products at Canada’s largest fruit and vegetable trade show ($1,200 value). Connect with over 300 produce companies, uncover the latest consumer trends and innovations, and sample delicious produce-forward creations by Canadian chefs. Take part in our self-guided tour for health professionals and complete your passport for a chance to win prizes. Be sure to check out the exhibitor floor plan to plan your visits. 

This event is sponsored by:

 

For questions, please contact Sue Lewis at [email protected]

Date:
Thursday, April 30th, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building)
222 Bremmer Boulevard
Toronto, ON
M5V 3L9
Room 801