Oppy  

Coquitlam,  BC 
Canada
http://www.oppy.com

• Booth: 1209, 1309

Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe, we have over 160 years of expertise ensuring we consistently meet your needs. We market over 100 varieties of produce from 27 countries to 1,300+ retailers in North America and throughout the world. Our team serves as more than a full-service sales and marketing partner—we offer manufacturing, quality control, supply chain logistics, transportation services and beyond. Oppy is proud to be part of the Dole plc family, one of the world’s largest fresh produce providers.

 Press Releases

• New Wave Berry clears the table to begin planting revolutionary concept (Feb 09, 2022)

  Hydroponically-grown strawberry pack set to arrive in Happy Berry™ label by year-end

  Rooting thousands of strawberry plants on elevated tables the first week of October, Oppy, under the Ocean Spray license, will launch the first-ever specialty berry pack in the Happy Berry™ label mid-December. The hydroponic tabletop strawberry concept was developed by New Wave Berry, LLC which is a joint venture formed by grower, marketer and distributor Oppy, agricultural investment firm Farmers Gate and family-owned agribusiness Red Dog Management, who is growing the crop in Santa Maria, California.

  The newly-constructed high tunnel facility grows protected strawberries on tables raised to chest height, making labor more ergonomically friendly for those planting, tending and harvesting the berries. Growing hydroponically also requires fewer inputs than field grown strawberries — because they are elevated, the ground beneath them does not require the intense fumigation between planting cycles typically applied in traditional production. Berries receive just the right nutrition, at just the right time while dramatically reducing water use, and greenhouse efficiencies enable all of those benefits for year-round production.

  “Berry consumption continues to rise, outpacing the growth of other fruit items,” said Oppy Vice President of Categories and Strategy Jason Fung. “While we’re very encouraged to see this, macro level trends facing the industry like land availability, labor, water, sustainability and beyond continue to raise challenges. We seek to do better, and this new way of growing is really going to change things — we believe it represents the future of strawberry growing.”

  That future relying heavily on sustainability, Fung noted, sharing that a recent study undertaken by Measure to Improve revealed that the equipment and materials used in the production of a pound of Happy Berry™ strawberries entails 20% less plastic than field grown strawberries. With water challenges for agriculture throughout the world, especially in California, tabletop berries are grown in seamless troughs with a precise irrigation system that safeguards water reclamation and optimization.

  “Even with all the benefits of hydroponic strawberries, we know it can be difficult to introduce something new that consumers aren’t typically familiar with,” shared Fung. “Trust goes a long way to motivate a purchase decision, which is why the licensing of Ocean Spray’s logo helps encourage consumers to pick up a new item. Happy Berry™ was the perfect fit for this pack, building a memorable, positive and inviting brand around Ocean Spray’s already established positioning.”

  In fact, Oppy’s marketing team has been holding onto the Happy Berry™ sub brand for a number of years — saving it for a berry concept worthy of the name — as it initially received exceptionally positive reviews in consumer testing, shared Fung. Today, the premium gold label appearing on the 12-oz. clamshell features not only the recognized Ocean Spray brand, under trademark license from Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., and popular Happy Berry™ label, but also key hydroponic call-outs and a QR code to educate consumers on the growing method. More recent testing showed that the brand elicited key attributes like high quality, fresh taste, sustainability and more. As well, the majority of respondents indicated a willingness to pay a premium for hydroponic strawberries.

  Bringing field berries to the market for several years with Oppy, owners of Red Dog Management Greg and Donna France said, “It’s been a really exciting project to get off the ground, we’ve had great support from our team and from the industry. We’re thrilled to be working with Oppy to differentiate a mature category and add value for customers and consumers.” The Frances also noted that there has been remarkable interest from domestic workers to be a part of this new line, considering labor is less arduous for those tending to the tables.

  “We look forward to welcoming a happy new year with Happy Berry and enlisting many happy markets,” Greg and Donna France affirmed.

• Oppy ups the ante with first vertical farming partnership (Feb 09, 2022)

  UP Vertical Farms™ aims to become world’s largest and most sustainable grower of baby leafy greens in 2023

  UP Vertical Farms™ is a cutting edge new indoor farm leading the way with the upcoming launch of Canada’s first touchless, high density indoor vertical farm for growing customizable baby leafy greens. Founded by Fresh Green Farms, the company plans to unveil the first phase of operations in the spring of 2022 with the goal of becoming the world’s largest and most sustainable vertical farm by 2023.

  In an industry grappling with many challenges, from climate change impacting crops, labor shortages and rising fuel costs effecting food prices, to food safety concerns, traditional methods of farming are proving to be more challenging every day. That’s why the team at UP Vertical Farms has spent the last several years researching and developing the latest technology to grow crops at 350 times the yield of conventional farming, while employing the most advanced, high density growing solution with minimal impact on the environment.

  “Vertical farming is the future of agriculture and we’re excited to take it to the next level to bring better tasting and longer lasting greens to consumers everywhere by next year,” said Bahram Rashti, co-founder of UP Vertical Farms. “Our fully automated system will revolutionize the industry by allowing for much higher yields, quicker production and better quality control to produce locally grown greens in the most sustainable way.”

  UP Vertical Farms will roll out the first phase of operations in B.C.’s Lower Mainland in the spring of 2022, anticipating production of just under 1 million kilograms — or 6.3 million bags — of salad greens per year. Further expansions through 2023 will essentially quadruple the total volume, making UP Vertical Farms the largest vertical farm in the world.

  As Canada’s first hands-free vertical farming operation, UP Vertical Farms will be fully automated from seeding through to harvest in a humidity, temperature, water, light and nutrient-controlled environment that ups the quality of each and every plant. At UP Vertical Farms, leaves will never be touched by humans. Unlike traditional field greens they are grown in a controlled indoor environment in water, not soil, eliminating the need for chemicals to safeguard crops.

  Most importantly, UP’s high density vertical farming solution is a Canadian innovation for a more sustainable future and a heathier planet. UP Vertical Farms uses 99% less land, 99% less water, 99% less fertilizer, and 95% less plastic for packaging to produce over 350 times greater yield, using zero pesticides for locally grown greens. Additionally, UP’s crops will be grown year-round in a 13 to 21-day growing cycle using recycled CO2 and proprietary lighting technology for custom brix levels and flavor profiles.

  “We are excited to be entering the vertical farming space and bring fresh innovative options to our retail partners,” said Executive Director of Greenhouse and Canadian Category Development Aaron Quon. “Bahram and Shahram Rashti are committed to bringing the freshest, most advanced and sustainable technology to controlled environment agriculture. We’re thrilled to partner with them.”

  From arugula to butter lettuce, UP’s delicious and nutritious, ready-to-eat greens will come in a variety of blends for salads, dishes, sandwiches and garnishes. UP Vertical Farms also has the unique ability to fully customize packs specific to the individual needs of retailers and restaurants. Because crops are grown in an automated 13 to 21-day period, blends can be tailored and grown instantaneously to keep pace with ongoing trends and adds to the quality and consistency only UP can deliver to its partners. Consumers will be able to purchase UP super greens from a range of retailers through its partnership with Oppy in 2022.

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