Oppy announced a new grape program building on its partnership with Ocean Spray®, the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families.
The fruit comes from the southern hemisphere, which expands Oppy’s footprint and offers retailers the 12-month consumer brand for the grape category from Peru, Chile and Brazil as well as South Africa, Mexico and California. Oppy’s overall program is balanced across several global growing regions and a wide range of proprietary varieties, with an emphasis on quality, consistency and flavor.
Ocean Spray® grapes are offered in a variety of packaging options, including high-graphic bags as well as 2 lb. and 3 lb. clamshells. Promotional volumes are available through February to support various retailer needs.
The Oppy-Ocean Spray partnership allows Oppy to grow its southern hemisphere grape program.
“Oppy’s grape program continues evolving to meet the market demand,” said Bill Poulos, Oppy’s director of import grapes and stone fruit. “Our program is varied and comprises a mixture of new varieties that help attract new consumers, as well as trusted favorites.”
Import grapes continue delivering results, with 2020 volume increasing by six percent over 2019 in their January-May season, despite overall unpredictability across markets.
Since the U.S. is the top market by volume for grapes from Peru (where Oppy recently broadened its decades-long presence), the 162-year-old fresh produce company will also offer its first ever organic Fair Trade Certified green and red seedless grapes. This is in keeping with growing consumer demand for produce that helps communities as well as the environment.
A Fair Trade partner since 2004, the program’s premiums go towards supporting essential infrastructure in grower communities including healthcare, education, fresh water access and more. The workers who produce Fair Trade Certified produce determine the allocation of premiums, thus empowering communities toward sustainable development. Oppy’s sales of Fair Trade grapes have already experienced growth, increasing by 137 percent from the first half of 2018 to the first half of 2019.
Combined with its offerings from Chile, promotable grape volumes are expected this season. Earlier this year, Oppy further developed its grape offerings by becoming an importer of the organic green seedless Arra 15 variety from Peru.
For more information:
Shrief Fadl
Oppy
Tel: +1 (604) 461-6779
Shrief.Fadl@oppy.com
www.oppy.com
Ocean Spray
Tel: +1 (212) 839-0111
TeamOceanSpray@jonesworks.com
https://www.oceanspray.com