Packaging increasing sales for Oppy partner SunSelect

Value-added packs are helping increase greenhouse pepper and tomato sales at British Columbia's SunSelect Produce Inc.

The Delta, British Columbia-based grower, which markets through The Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, British Columbia, has expanded use of its Outrageously Fresh-branded produce during the height of British Columbia production, according to a news release.

SunSelect has experienced high demand for its 3-, 4- and 6-pack pepper bags as well as its 2-pound pepper packs that are beginning to be marketed under the Outrageously Fresh label, Len Krahn, SunSelect's chief operating officer, said in the release.

This season, SunSelect is harvesting consistency in its British Columbia red, yellow and orange peppers, according to the release. Technology upgrades helped improve quality and efficiency, according to the release.

"We moved our packing operation to our Delta location and invested in a new grading line that involves greater automation and more drop lanes," Krahn said in the release. "This accomplishes a higher output using considerably less labor and delivers a more consistent pack."

In October, SunSelect starts harvesting sweet bell peppers from Tehachapi, Calif., according to the release.

This year will be the second full-scale pepper season at Tehachapi, where SunSelect plans to harvest on 24 of its 64 acres, according to the release.

SunSelect grows and ships peppers throughout the year from Canada and California.

SunSelect and Oppy market grape, cherry and gourmet medley tomatoes in bags and topseal punnets.

It also sells tomatoes-on-the-vine and cocktail tomatoes.