Fresh produce group is Increasing its roma tomato case-count by half a million from last season
Oppy has said that it is now shipping Oceanside Pole label-tomatoes to customers, lining up some 2.2m cases of rounds and over 1.6m cases of romas, from 1m poles on 800 acres.
Oceanside is the only large-scale pole-grown operation remaining in California, Oppy said – a system that raises fruit off the ground to improve airflow and quality while naturally ripening on the vine.
The group is Increasing its roma case-count by 0.5m from last season, according to Oppy’s senior sales representative James Galindo.
“Oceanside Pole label romas are quickly becoming recognised as the best out there — particularly for their deep red colour and firmness,” he said. ”We’re excited to bring this significant volume increase to market to serve more of what our customers want.”
Oceanside added a new optical sorting line at the beginning of last year’s harvest to improve operational efficiencies for the growing crop size.
This state-of-the-art machinery enhances accuracy, speed and consistency while culling out any quality concerns, Oppy said.
“We have stringent protocols in place for food safety and traceability, ensuring all products are of the best quality,” said director of sales and strategy Mark Smith.
“Because tomatoes are only hand-picked when ready — thanks to our central location — we can pack, ship and deliver to retailers within 24 hours,” Smith continued.
“We deliver only fruit that has unmatched brix levels, robust flavour, extended shelf-life and a clean-slicing texture. Oceanside Pole tomatoes are truly one-of-a-kind.”
Peak volume will pick up toward the middle of August, until the end of October, according to Smith.
