Oppy adds Southern Hemisphere grapes to Ocean Spray program

The Oppenheimer Group is expanding its Ocean Spray branded grape program, adding Southern Hemisphere fruit to expand to year-round availability with the label.

Oppy’s Ocean Spray grape program started in spring 2020, with Mexican grapes, followed by fruit from California. The company will now ship from Peru, Chile and Brazil, as well as South Africa, according to a news release.

Oppy’s program includes a wide variety of proprietary grape varieties, with a focus on quality, consistency and flavor, according to the release.

Ocean Spray grape packaging options include high-graphic bags and 2- and 3-pouind clamshells. Promotional volumes are available through February, according to Oppy.

Bill Poulos, Oppy’s director of import grapes and stone fruit, said the company’s grape program evolves with market demand.

“Our program is incredibly varied and comprises a mixture of new, exciting varieties that help attract new consumers, as well as tried and trusted favorites that are always a hit,” Poulos said in the release. “Now offered under the immediately familiar and top-quality Ocean Spray brand, our customers can truly refresh and reenergize their grape category.”

Import grapes continue to deliver healthy results, with 2020 volume increasing by 6% over 2019 in their January-May season, despite overall unpredictability across markets. 

Oppy is also importing fair trade certified organic green and red seedless grapes from Peru for the first time. Oppy’s sales of fair trade grapes rose 137% from the first half of 2018 to the first half of 2019

Promotable grape volumes are projected this year, according to the release, Oppy recently became the first importer of the organic green seedless Arra 15 variety from Peru.