NatureFresh Farms launches OntarioRed tomato program

Leamington, Ontario-based NatureFresh Farms says it is emphasizing locally grown tomatoes by launching an OntarioRed tomato program.

“Customers want consistency in what they buy,” Peter Quiring, NatureFresh president, said in a news release. “Our mobile Greenhouse Education Center is helping tell the story of how we grow our vegetables, but that only goes so far.”

The new program is in line with the company’s established TOMZ & OhioRed program, Quiring said.

“With our greenhouse-grown tomatoes from Leamington, we needed to take the same approach with our new OntarioRed program — same grower, same farm, from a brand you can trust,” he said. “As a result, it helps us to connect the dots for our customers that we are the grower.”

The OntarioRed program has tomatoes on the vine, red beefsteak and roma tomatoes, and all three items are available in a variety of pack formats, according to the release.

“A grower knows his plants but knows his tomatoes even better; when you purchase an OntarioRed tomato, it’s coming from the same grower every time, we guarantee it,” Isaac Braun, NatureFresh tomato grower, said in the release.

Braun said he is encouraged to see enthusiasm growing around supporting the Foodland Ontario theme.

Foodland Ontario is a promotional program that recognizes locally grown vegetables, NatureFresh Marketing Director Chris Veillon said in the release. According to Foodland Ontario, nine out of 10 principal grocery shoppers in Ontario recognize its logo.

NatureFresh Farms plans to feature the new OntarioRed program at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention & Trade Show May 9-11 in Toronto.