As Happy Berry season begins, Oppy says it has refreshed the packaging design for the hydroponically grown strawberries to reflect its sweet flavor and sustainable production.
The British Columbia-based fresh produce grower, marketer and distributor first launched Happy Berry in late 2021. Oppy says the high-tunnel strawberries grown under the Happy Berry brand in Santa Maria, Calif., receive precise nutrition through a seamless trough system with optimized irrigation and water reclamation, which reduces water use.
The company grows Happy Berries on raised tables to make planting, tending and harvesting more ergonomic for farmworkers. And due to the raised table production, berries do not require intense fumigation between planting cycles, the company says.
“Oppy is always looking for ways to improve and grow more sustainably,” Aaron Quon, Oppy’s executive director of berries and Canadian category development, said in a news release. “From the beginning, Happy Berry has been a memorable and positive brand, well-suited to a hydroponically grown item. But we soon discovered that while consumers do care deeply about sustainability, hydroponics still aren’t very well known. Our research has shown that sweetness is the number one driver of their strawberry purchase decisions.”
Oppy says its carefully controlled environment also leads to a sweet eating experience and its new packaging now emphasizes the flavor of the fruit. The new Happy Berry label now features simplified messaging that amplifies flavor alongside key hydroponic attributes to educate consumers this includes less water, less land, less sprays and less impact.
“The crop is looking fantastic,” said Dean Barbis, category director of berries for Oppy. “Heavy volumes are expected through April, May and June, providing ample supply for retailers and consumers, with promotions available for Easter and Mother’s Day.”
Oppy sells Happy Berr strawberries in 1- and 2-pound clamshells and 12-ounce packaging, backed by the Ocean Spray brand.
