Oppy is set to showcase its expanding greenhouse-grown offerings as well as reintroduce Category Director of Greenhouse Kevin Batt at the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 27-29.
Batt, who recently returned to the grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce last summer after nearly 12 years, came back aboard to further enhance Oppy’s greenhouse category through his network and expertise, according to a release.
Attendees of the show can also learn more about the fresh year-round crop that is underway from Divemex, with sweet bell peppers and mini peppers out of Mexico, along with long English cucumbers available until spring — all offered in a range of conventional, organic, Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade Certified organic options.
“We also have a more robust tomato program from Mexico this winter in our Frank & Able label,” said Batt in the release. The line includes tomatoes-on-the-vine, grape tomatoes and specialty offerings. The brand will continue to grow into other tomato items and regions in addition to Mexico and Canada, Batt added.
Oppy says it plans to debut UP Vertical Farms vertically grown leafy greens program in January. Produced in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia and using 99% less land, 99% less water, 95% less plastic than traditional clamshell packaging, and yielding 350 times more lettuce than conventional field-grown greens in the same amount of space, this is Oppy’s first vertical farming partnership, according to a release.
Then as spring rolls around, also from British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, Origin Organic Farms and Perpetual Vegetable Co. will begin fresh crops.
A cornerstone of Oppy’s signature branded organic produce line, Origin Organic Farms offers tomatoes-on-the-vine, bell peppers and long English cucumbers grown in a proprietary soil recipe that nurtures plants and then recycles its water for irrigation, allowing for maximum sustainability, the company said.
Currently growing long English cucumbers year-round under lights, Perpetual Vegetable Co. has been a key strategic partner of Oppy’s for nearly 10 years. The 2023 crops include conventional bell peppers, mini peppers, long English cucumbers and mini cucumbers.
“We are excited to bring more peppers to the market this spring in the Perpetual Vegetable Co. brand,” said Executive Director of Greenhouse and Canadian Category Development Aaron Quon of its significant increase in bell pepper production. “It’s been a great experience having Kevin on our team once again, and thanks to him, we have made tremendous growth in a short period of time. We look forward to what the future holds for the Oppy greenhouse portfolio.”
Visit Batt and Quon at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Oppy booth #1543.
“We anticipate seeing everyone in Orlando this week and sharing the strength of our greenhouse program,” said Batt.
