BC Fresh head Murray Driediger receives CPMA Lifetime Achievement Award

Murray Driediger, president and CEO of BC Fresh Vegetables Inc. (BC Fresh), has been named the 2024 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the fresh produce industry.

His career, which spans over 40 years, started at his family’s business, Driediger Bros. Farms Ltd. in 1979 where he worked as the managing partner. In this role, he transitioned the company from a focus on growing fruit for processors to one focused on growing for the fresh market. Over time, he developed a supply network of over 40 growers as well as a distribution network for six fruit commodities throughout North America.

Since then, he has held various senior roles within the industry. As BC Vegetable Marketing Commission’s general manager, he helped guide the significant expansion in the root crop and greenhouse sectors, as sales increased from $69 million when he joined in 1997 to $300 million. In 2005, he moved into the role of president of the Golden Eagle Group, one of the largest agriculture operations in Canada covering 4,800 acres.

He then joined BC Fresh in 2007 as president and CEO where he has remained for the past 17 years. He transitioned the company from an on-farm distribution model to a central distribution network resulting in two warehouse expansions in the last 14 years. Under his leadership, the company has grown sales exponentially and now markets and distributes an expanded produce offering from 60 farms, consisting of 8,000 acres and 95,000 tons in annual produce sales.

Driediger will be presented with this award alongside other industry members and businesses at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show’s Awards Brunch on Thursday, April 25, in Vancouver.