The scientific committee of the International Probiotocs Association (IPA) World Congress + Probiota Americas 2016 is calling for submission of abstracts for this year’s event. Deadline is March 18.

The IPA World Congress+Probiota Americas will focus on the probiotic scientific frontier and its various applications.

Errol Schweizer, Whole Foods’ Executive Global Grocery Coordinator, has left the company after a 16-year tenure.

During Schweizer’s time with the company, he helped launched many new natural products. Schweizer is known for helping Whole Foods be front and centre with grocery trends including GMO transparency, and new superfoods.

Also, Kara Rubin, Senior Regional Grocery Director for the Northeast Region exited Whole Foods in February after a ten-year tenure.

The Canada Organic Trade Association has appointed a new Executive Director. Starting March 21, established non-profit manager Tia Loftsgard starts her new position with the company.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Tia to COTA in her role as Executive Director,” says COTA Board President Dag Falck.

Falck added that Loftsgard is the right person to take COTA and organic across Canada into the future. “Organic in Canada continues to have the momentum of strong consumer demand, but faces the challenges of increasing domestic supply, building on our success in international markets, and representing our needs to the new federal government.”

“I’m honoured and excited to take on this new role at COTA,” says Tia Loftsgard. “I know the organic sector well, and am really looking forward to meeting more of our diverse members, partners and stakeholders so we can plan the next stage for organic in Canada together –

In 1999, Tia cofounded Camino (La Siembra Co-operative) and worked as the Director of Sales. In 2009, Loftsgard left the company and joined Fairtrade Canada as its Business Development and Licensing Director. In 2013, she joined Fairtrade America as its Chief Operating Officer.

Canadian natural health retailers might have experienced some additional sales from south of the border. While it is not unusual for American shoppers to shop across the border in times of the Loonie’s weakness, this slump has seen a vast increase in their doing so in the online arena.

Over the past two years, the Canadian dollar has fallen about 18 per cent against its U.S. counterpart. Correspondingly, PayPal spending by U.S. shoppers on Canadian websites jumped 20 per cent in 2015 from the previous year.

EMarketer suggests that this is unusual for American shoppers, who typically stray from international e-commerce—when these customers buy foreign products online, getting it delivered is considered importing and is thus subject to examination from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This means that buyers may have to pay extra duties and fees depending on the item.

Regardless, many Americans still feel that this hassle is worth it—in 2015, Americans spent $3.2 billion on Canadian websites. (hitechwork.com) According to a study from PayPal and Ipsos SA, this is part of a total cross-border spending spree of $27 billion that is expected to grow 10 percent in 2016.

A February report from eMarketer notes that the top two reasons that U.S. digital shoppers cited for buying cross-border were product availability and better prices. PayPal adds that the top three categories of goods purchased are auto parts, fashion, and Web services and software.

Peter Jorna, a Halifax pharmacist, was recently robbed at knife point. Now, he fears that pharmacy robberies will happen again. It is true, pharmacy robberies are on the rise.

Besides Halifax, pharmacies in Hamilton, Ontario, and other Canadian cities have fallen victim to robberies. In light of this, Durham Regional Police has some useful advice to help pharmacists protect themselves and their stores if future robberies were to occur. 

Recent media reports show that thieves are either looking for drugs or money. In the Hamilton robberies, for example, the thieves stole money, fentanyl patches as well as hydromorphone and oxycodone pills. Sergeant Bill Calder with Durham Regional Police advises that pharmacists should always comply with criminal demands.

“After a robbery occurs, pharmacists should provide local police with as much information on the suspect and items stolen as possible,” Calder says.

While prevention is always important, Calder says that: “There is no real way to prevent people from robbing your store, but ensure you have a protocol in place which details how to deal with the robbery as well as how to assist the police in their investigation after the fact.”

Preventative measures such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras can help deter criminals, but Calder says that these measures help police to do their jobs more quickly. Pharmacists, Calder advises, should secure known prescriptions and other drugs.

“[Also] Don’t ever hesitate to call the police if you suspect any suspicious behaviour in the store.”