b"The Right Time to Think Storage is Now Leaving the MarketAfter 27 years leading Peak of the Market, Larry McIntosh is set to retire this summer.BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONFOR LARRY MCINTOSH, eating his vegetables is something everyone takes notice of.Whenever Id go out to a restaurant, back when we could go out to restaurants, and I didn't eat my brussel sprouts or something, the server almost always commented on it. I always had to eat my veggies, McIntosh says in a phone interview.The CEO and President of Peak of the Market is retiring this summer after 27 years of living, breathing (and eating) his job. Throughout his time at the helm of the Manitoba-based market co-operative, it has grown to export fresh produce across North America and now includes a second distribution centre and office in Calgary, Alta. I am feeling good (about retiring). From the point of view that we have a solid foundation of people here that are going to continue growing the company. But I'm also going to miss all the people and all the growers, he says.McIntosh grew up in the Toronto, Ont. area. When he was 14, he started working as a stockperson at the local BiWay storea bargain store chain. This marked the beginning of his more than four-decade career working in sales.McIntosh worked his way up through the company, helping BiWay expand across the country. He left the company when he was a vice-president for Western Canada. At one point he was based in Winnipeg, Man. where he fell in love with the city. After he was transferred from Winnipeg, he still felt his heart was there leading him to look for a job which would bring him home.In 1994, he was hired as the President and CEO of Peak of theLarry McIntosh, retiring CEO and president of Peak of the MarketMarket. The market co-operative quickly became important to his life. He met his wife Shelley, an executive assistant at PeakDietwhich didnt cast potatoes in the best lightbecame of the Market, at work. For 26 years they worked by each otherspopular, Peak of the Market worked to educate people on the sides until the global COVID-19 pandemic hit Manitoba in Marchhealth benefits of spuds. And when potato consumption had 2020 causing many Peak employees to start working remotely started to become stagnant, the Peak of the Market team created including Shelley. the Potahto campaign encouraging potato eating through fun Dave Whitmore has worked with McIntosh for 37 years, havingvideos, billboards and other content.worked together at BiWay and then the last 26 at Peak of theAs McIntosh moves toward retirement though, he isnt slowing Market. Over that time, theyve developed a professional respectdown. Following his last day at Peak of the Market, he plans for each other. to focus more on his volunteering endeavours. McIntosh is We've been working together so long that we kind of knowa member of many boards including the Canadian Produce what each other thinkslike being married. And it's nice to beMarketing Association, the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian able to have someone that you can talk to and be yourself andFood Policy Advisory Council. throw ideas out that may sound crazy sometimes, where otherThose three organizations have a fair amount of meetings people might shoot you down, the vice-president of sales forper year, with quite a bit of information to read, and I hope to be Peak of the Market explains in a phone interview. even more involved than I've been able to since I will have more For Mcintosh, there have been many high and lows overtime. And then Shelley, my wife, and I hope to do some travelling the years of working at Peak of the Market. When the Atkinsonce we are able to travel again, McIntosh says. SPUDSMART.COM Summer 202135"