July 28, 2026 – Today, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) announced that Chris Davison has informed the board of his decision to step down as president & CEO, effective December 31, 2026.

Davison joined the CCC in the summer of 2021 as vice-president, stakeholder and industry relations and was appointed president & CEO in July 2023. In his role, he has led through a period of significant change for Canada’s canola industry, including trade challenges and uncertainty in its two largest markets. Davison also oversaw the refresh of the CCC’s strategic framework and organizational restructure and advanced several important market access, market development and policy priorities.

“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Chris for his leadership and dedication to the CCC and Canada’s canola industry,” says Kevin Wright, chair of the CCC’s board of directors and general manager of the Great Lakes Region with ADM. “The board is grateful for his contributions on several fronts, including guiding the organization through complex market and trade challenges and positioning it for the future. We wish him continued success.”

“It is an honour and a privilege to serve the Canadian canola industry in this capacity,” says Davison. “I am extremely proud of what the CCC team has accomplished on behalf of our members and the broader industry during a period of unprecedented change and volatility. There are also very good reasons for optimism moving forward, including major investments in domestic processing and export infrastructure, growing opportunities for canola in biofuel production and energy security, and record production in 2025.”

The board of directors will begin the process of identifying the CCC’s next president & CEO immediately.

The Canola Council of Canada thanks Chris Davison for his service, leadership and commitment to Canada’s canola industry.

The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. The CCC’s mission is to facilitate market access and strategic development and enable industry innovation to grow the value and profitability of Canadian canola. For more information, visit canolacouncil.org.

(Hartville, OH) Renewable Lubricants introduces Bio-Food Grade™ E.P. Grease, a high-temperature, biobased grease with excellent extreme pressure (E.P.) and anti-wear performance for food and beverage processing applications. This unique formulation is characterized by super high viscosity index of the Stabilized™ HOBS base oils which naturally enhance thermal shear stability and load-carrying capacity. Engineered specifically for food and beverage processing machinery and packing machinery, they are NSF H1 registered for incidental food contact. Bio-Food Grade™ E.P. Greases feature rust and oxidation inhibitors, are highly water-resistant, and can be used in both open and enclosed gear applications. Ultimately biodegradable and manufactured under Kosher supervision, these formulas include an optimized blend of preservatives providing broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and mold, making them ideal for high-temperature or humid conditions often found in food and beverage processing plants, packaging lines, breweries, and more.

All Bio-Food Grade™ E.P. Grease formulations include an aluminum complex thickener to deliver superior high-temperature performance along with strong adhesion and cohesion properties. They have a neutral odor and are non-staining. They meet or exceed DOD-G-24650 specifications. For best results in conversions from petroleum-based grease, purge old grease before refilling.

With patented antioxidants (Stabilized™*), these biosynthetics provide improved performance in oxidation stability over standard plant/vegetable/HETG and unsaturated HEES type fluids. They are highly inhibited against moisture and rusting in both fresh and sea water and pass ASTM D-1743 testing.

Renewable Lubricants, Inc. began as a research and development company in 1991, developing high performance products that would directly replace petroleum-based products. Starting from a single corn-based engine oil developed in the inventor’s garage, the company now offers more than 250 products and has over 100 worldwide patents. They manufacture their products as environmentally friendly as possible without sacrificing performance. For more information on Renewable Lubricants, Inc., contact Benjamin Garmier at (330) 877-9982, or info@RenewableLube.com, or visit www.RenewableLube.com.

EDMONTON, Alta., July 27, 2026

Agritourism Alberta (formerly Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association) has launched Taste the Alberta Berry Harvest, a provincial promotion encouraging Albertans to visit participating U-pick farms, buy locally grown berries and berry products, and spend time on Alberta farms during the summer harvest.

Nineteen farms are taking part so far, from the Grande Prairie region in the north to the Lethbridge region in the south. More Agritourism Alberta members are still signing up.

"Berry season is one of the best times of year to visit an Alberta farm," said Richard Staples, Vice-President of Agritourism Alberta and a farmer at The Jungle Farm near Innisfail. "This promotion helps people find local farms, meet the growers behind their food, and put money back into Alberta farms and rural communities."

What each farm offers varies, and it changes through the season. Participating farms may have:

● U-pick and pre-picked berries
● Jam, juice, syrup, wine, pies and other berry products
● Farm stores and direct farm sales
● Alberta meat, vegetables, honey, flowers, animal fibre and other local products
● Tours, tastings, animals, picnic areas and family activities

Berry availability changes quickly with weather, ripening conditions and visitor demand. Albertans are asked to check with each farm before travelling to confirm hours, picking conditions and U-pick availability.

Participating farms will post harvest updates on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok throughout the season, and Agritourism Alberta will share selected updates on its provincial channels.

"A U-pick visit gives families a chance to spend time on a farm, see how food is grown, and take something home the same day they picked it," said Staples.

The full farm list, map and campaign details are at www.albertafarmfresh.com/taste-the-alberta-berry-harvest

PackworldUSA, a leading manufacturer of precision heat sealing equipment, highlights how its PW3400 and PW3300 Series help contract packagers run high-mix, short-run programs while maintaining repeatable, validated seals across a wide range of materials and formats.

For lines handling multiple SKUs and film types, both series include touch screen with on-screen diagnostics, easy calibration, and recipe storage so operators quickly load proven settings by product, film, or customer to minimize training time, errors, and changeover downtime. Interchangeable jaw bars enable fast consumable replacement or sealing configuration changes. Standard seal bars of 16 or 24 inches (custom 12-30 inches) and seal widths of 2-12 mm let contract manufacturers run small pouches through large bags on one platform while matching seal geometry to customer specifications.

To fit dynamic contract packaging environments, the PW3400 and PW3300 can be used as tabletop units or mounted on an adjustable height and tilt stand with lockable casters, making it easy to reposition sealers as projects and layouts change. Close access to the sealing area supports minimal headspace to reduce material use and improve presentation, while side-to-side film pass-through and quick removable seal bars support flexible station design and fast configuration changes.

Both series seal the widest variety of films including mono- and multi-layer materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, Tyvek, laminated foils, non-wovens, and fluoropolymer films such as FEP, PFA, and PTFE. Optional dual jaw heating applies heat from both sides of the film to shorten cycle times on thick or high-temperature materials. Optional water-cooling helps maintain short cycle times at elevated temperatures, supporting higher throughput on time-sensitive projects. Energy-efficient on-demand heating activates elements only during cycle, while quick startup (under one minute) and rapid cooldown minimize delays when maintenance or configuration changes are needed.

Contract packagers working in regulated or audited environments benefit from data logging with lot codes and batch counting for traceability, configurable user security to protect validated settings, and cleanroom-ready stainless steel and anodized aluminum construction with a fanless, pressure-activated touch screen for gloved operation in controlled spaces. PackworldUSA’s TOSS Technology delivers high seal-to-seal and machine-to-machine repeatability, helping maintain validation and reduce rework.

Each model targets distinct contract packaging needs. The PW3400 offers horizontal film loading that integrates easily into existing layouts and supports a wide range of pouch and bag styles, with optional vacuum and purge capability. The PW3300 provides vertical film loading ideal for flowable products, helping settle contents during sealing for cleaner, more consistent results, while pinned jaw bars give quick access for consumable changes and seal bar adjustments during changeovers.​