"3 years ago was just an idea, struggling to put down its roots, understand all the regulations, establish the right contacts and overcome numerous other hurdles that challenge immigrant led startups.

The office of the Industry Engagement Coordinator at the CPFC did a remarkable job guiding, helping and encouraging us every step of the way.

The journey for us has just begun, and we are yet to establish ourselves, however we did secure three grants, established numerous contacts and have been featured on national television, none of which might have happened without CPFC helping us establish the right contacts which set the ball rolling.

A big shout out for Paloma Navarro and the CPFC team, you have a lot of reasons to be proud of your work in helping us."

"CPFC was a very helpful program for food businesses in Southern Alberta, especially small businesses. I loved the programs, information and connections available through CPFC. I learned so much about the amount of food production happening in our region, which made me really appreciate everything Southern Alberta has to offer. The connections with other small businesses were especially valuable, and the event at the polytechnic was top notch. I’ve even received website orders that came through connections I made with CPFC. Paloma was also lovely to work with and very supportive throughout the experience.”

"CPFC has given myself and my business so much assistance!!  The webinars were a wealth of knowledge that helped me make the right business decisions at the right times! Not to mention the connections with fellow small business owners that have become close friends!  Thank you for all of the help and support you have given over the years!!"

“The CPFC workshops, especially the AI workshops, were very educational, practical and interactive. I also really valued the client collaborations and the support I received from Paloma. Her knowledge of the food industry, along with the resources and information she shared, was very helpful.”

“It was an absolute honour to work with Paloma while she was with CPFC. She introduced me to a valuable contact which led to student internship opportunities for both of the two year diploma programs I instruct. I was invited also to be a judge for the food photography event and that was so rewarding to have such a dynamic and productive session for local producers to market their business and have tangible ways to help improve their bottom line. I hope there are future employment opportunities where Paloma will contribute to another area of the diversification of Alberta’s economy. She would be a huge asset to whoever gets to work with her next.”


"CPFC has provided a broad array of topics that have been relevant to our business at Luco Farms. As a small business we have been growing organically, which requires thought, new ideas and business support. That has been provided by CPFC in spades encouraging us to think out of the box by attending informative and thought-provoking webinars such as the Business Enablement at the CFIA workshop, support in creating Luco Farms CPFC Success Story video and using it to promote our business and the region. Other programs we attended are AI for Food & Beverage Business which provided us with insights to marketing, staffing, logistics and more. Overall, the Canada Premier Food Corridor program has opened the door to many new ideas, opportunities and business contacts. The program has been a benefit to Luco Farms business and the branding has benefited many Southern Alberta businesses just like ours."

"I have found the webinars and learning opportunities hosted by CPFC to be incredibly valuable. The sessions were always well-organized, insightful, and packed with practical knowledge that directly helped navigating the industry.  The dedicated staff did a phenomenal job fostering connection and engagement across the region, and their hard work has truly made a lasting impact. Thank you to the entire team for your dedication over the past three years."

“Canada’s Premier Food Corridor has provided a valuable platform to showcase our greenhouse applied research and strengthen connections with the regional agri-food community. Participating in the Regional Research Capacity Video Project was a great opportunity to share how our greenhouse research can support growers and industry.”

"Canada’s Premier Food Corridor was an amazing resource for the Lethbridge and the surrounding communities. For many of the students at Lethbridge Polytechnic taking the AgENT Entrepreneurship and Innovation extracurricular program , getting into the food and agrifood sector and building a brand and connections can be intimidating. CPFC was a great resource that also offered a lot of value add to the ecosystem. CPFC did an amazing job at highlighting all of the producers, processors and researchers that are apart of the Agrifood sector in the Lethbridge Region. Through events such as the Local Producers Dinner & Tradeshow, and the Food Photography workshop, CPFC engaged several program areas including Culinary and the Digital Media and Communication students and our AgENT students got hands on experiences, new tools that they can use, and many new local connections they can reach out to. These types of events only strengthen our community, not only economically, but socially as well. We appreciate from the AgENT Program, the opportunities that CPFC gave our students and Entrepreneurs on campus."

"Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to work with the CPFC team, and particularly with Paloma, on a number of projects and events. Throughout that time, I was consistently impressed by the care, enthusiasm, and professionalism the team brought to supporting and promoting regional food producers. Their commitment to showcasing local businesses and fostering connections within the agri-food community created valuable opportunities for engagement and visibility. I appreciate the collaborative approach they brought to these efforts.   Thank you again for your partnership over the years."

"Partnering with you and the CPFC has only heightened our student learning and provided us with a great avenue to explore the food that surrounds us. The connects you and CPFC have brought to us will be long standing and an ongoing benefit to our students and program."

“CPFC has provided a valuable platform for connecting AAFC research with Southern Alberta’s broader agri-food ecosystem. Through research videos, outreach and industry engagement, CPFC helped showcase advances in digital agriculture and smart farming while strengthening connections among researchers, producers, industry and regional partners.”

“Paloma and the CPFC team have been incredible for our community. They have been vital in connecting people, supporting small businesses, and helping local businesses grow and become stronger. Through CPFC, I gained a much greater appreciation for the incredible amount of food being grown and produced right here in our region and for the strength and potential of our local food economy. CPFC has also been one of the best connectors for our business—from introducing us to the marketing firm we now work with through a pitch competition, to opportunities like the Food Photography Learning Day and Local Producers Trade Show, as well as connections with Economic Development and Careers. These opportunities have directly led to new customers, partnerships, catering opportunities, and greater awareness of available grants, making CPFC a vital part of our local economy.”