TORONTO — Described by a peer as someone who “takes volunteer responsibilities as importantly as he does his paid roles,” Hugh Bowman earned The Packer’s Canadian Produce Person of the Year Award May 11.
The Packer Publisher Shannon Shuman said Bowman has persevered both in business and his personal life to emerge as a business owner and selfless leader within the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
Bowman founded Global Citrus Group in 2015 after working for Ippolito Produce, Bayshore Vegetable Systems and Misionero Vegetables over the past two decades.
He has been a volunteer leader within CPMA since 2007, currently on the board and is the chairman of the food safety committee.
He is chairman of CanAg Plus and is the CPMA representative on its board — where he has served five years. During that time, he led the merging of the Wholesale Retail Food Safety Program and CanadaGap to create CanAg Plus.
Bowman overcame a serious heart problem, and the married father of four daughters hasn’t let that slow down his personal or professional life.
Shuman called him “apparently invincible.”
“I’m very fortunate,” Bowman said after accepting the honors. “I love the industry.”
This is the 44th year The Packer has given the award at the annual CPMA convention.