Pitt Meadows, British Columbia-based indoor grower UP Vertical Farms has launched a top-seal pack in collaboration with its sales and marketing partner, Oppy.
The packaging aims to better meet the evolving needs of the market, combining sustainability, freshness and an enhanced eating experience, according to a news release.
“We are proud to introduce this new line that not only better protects our products but reflects our commitment to providing baby leafy greens that consumers can enjoy with confidence,” CEO Bahram Rashti, who founded UP Vertical Farms alongside brother and Executive Chairman Shahram Rashti, said in the release. “The updated design prominently features our commitment to sustainability, local sourcing and feeding the region. We want shoppers to know that our greens are Canadian, aligning with their values of supporting homegrown products.”
The peel-and-reseal feature allows consumers to enjoy a consistently fresh product every time they open the pack, extending its shelf life, according to the release.
“We are grateful for the positive market reception to our products,” Bahram Rashti said. “The feedback from our retail partners has been rewarding and humbling; we’ve appreciated their support in stocking our reliable, year-round supply of baby leafy greens with heightened technology and operations practices rare to the current market.”
The new top-seal pack is set to begin shipping to stores in mid-December, the release said.
The top-seal packs will be offered in blends, including Liven UP — arugula, Toss UP — tender lettuce blend, Stand UP — baby romaine, UP and Away — spring mix, Power UP — power greens, and Crunch UP — crispiest lettuce mix.
“We’re thrilled to be partnered with the Rashti duo, not only because they are passionate growers, but are servicing the needs of our industry and retail partners,” Oppy’s Category Director of Greenhouse Kevin Batt said in the release. “As climate change continues to affect us, UP Vertical Farms addresses food security issues in Canada and beyond its border, delivering a commercial scale solution that helps limit our country’s dependence on imported greens into the provinces it supplies.”
The release said UP Vertical Farms’ operations are fully automated from seeding to harvest, using 99% less land and water than open field lettuces.
Crops are grown in an automated 13-to-21-day period where blends can be tailored and grown instantaneously to keep pace with ongoing trends, the release said.
