45-year Canadian produce veteran retires from Oppy 

After three and a half decades with the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppenheimer Group, Walt Breeden is retiring.

Breeden, vice president of Canadian sales for Oppy, joined the company from Vancouver-based retailer Woodward’s to sell California-grown produce to Western Canadian customers in 1987, according to a news release.

Later, Breeden's role expanded to include New Zealand apples, pears, kiwifruit and other items. He was promoted to Vancouver sales manager in 1997 and went on to open Oppy’s Calgary and Toronto offices, according to the release.

“Throughout his career, Walt put his heart into our Canadian business,” John Anderson, chairman, CEO and managing partner, said in the release. "Taking a special focus on citrus, his relationships with Asian mandarin grower partners has kept a beloved holiday tradition alive.” 

Oppy first imported Japanese oranges to North America in 1891, and Breeden helped expand sales of easy peelers throughout his time withthe company, according to the release.

“We cannot thank Walt enough for his support, having become a bridge between Japanese growers and Canadian customers,” Tadashi Suzuki, Japan Fruit Growers Cooperative Association managing director, said in the release. “On behalf of many friends and fans in each region of Japan, we express our heartfelt congratulations on his retirement.”

Breeden served as chairman of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, along with being past president and former director of the British Columbia Produce Marketing Association (BCPMA), according to the release. In 2014, he was honored as The Packer’s Canadian Produce Person of the Year, and recognized in 2019 as the BCPMA Produce Person of the Year.

“On behalf of myself and Jo-Anne, and the entire Oppy family, we wish Walt and Debbie all the best in retirement,” Anderson said in the release.