ARVIN, CA - How is it possible to witness an energetic, early morning onion harvest in California or watch product move through a packing house in real-time from the comfort of your desk? Just jump into one of Country Sweet Produce’s (CSP) Virtual Farm Tours and bring the experience home—quite literally. The last tour date is Wednesday, June 17, so book while you can!
As the country slowly begins to open back up with the precautions of social distancing and retailers vie for a piece of the California produce pie, CSP is answering the call for innovative business solutions and we are not the only ones touting their success.
"The virtual tour gave us an opportunity to see multiple facets of Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet operations without having to travel,” Markon’s Quality Assurance Director John Galvez shares with me, as he details his Virtual Field Tour with CSP. “Filming two representatives at different field and facility locations was a great way to maximize the experience in a short amount of time and accommodate everyone's busy schedules—which was much appreciated."
And, just a quick note about urgency: Next week is the last week of available bookings through June 17! Spaces have been filling up fast as retailers respond to Country Sweet Produce’s polished itineraries and customized experiences for its customers and potential customers. The look of value is changing these days and those companies that can find their niche even in the middle of a crisis will come out ahead and on top.
High-end retailer Longo Brothers Fruit Market (Longo’s) has also caught the CSP Virtual Field Tour bug! With onion harvest underway and customers looking to get the latest on CSP’s watermelon, sweet potato, and new steam bag programs, there was much to discuss and opportunities to be tapped.
“Making the ‘new normal’ normal again, even from 2,500 miles away, was a pleasure with Country Sweet Produce,” Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral for Longo’s tells me. “To see the fruits of Country Sweet Produce's labor in real-time, even with the challenges of today, is one way that the team continues to set themselves apart from the competition. It was great to participate in a virtual farm tour last week. From the onion fields to the watermelon patches and even the packing lines, the Longo’s team had an incredible experience. It was like being there! Thanks again to CSP for taking the initiative and giving us this opportunity to visit its farms.”
Longo’s came in force, also inviting its produce management team at the store level.
“I want to thank the Country Sweet team, for virtually opening the family’s farm today and to congratulate the whole team in the amazing work that they are doing. The hard work, consistency, and care shows in every sweet onion, every red sweet watermelon, and every fragrant sweet potato that it is grown,” Longo’s Produce Manager, Alfonso Arcentales, shares. “Although there was a lot of physical distance between us, the CSP team made that distance disappear and brought that farm to life. The team took great care, taking us through the onion shed and fields to the beautiful early sweet potato plants and luscious melon and squash vines. It all felt very palpable.”
Enticed? So, were they! These are just a few of the many voices testament to the advantages of the new Virtual Farm Tour program.
Please use this link to schedule a visit with members of the CSP team! If you would like a longer block of time or want to go to a specific field, please reach out to [email protected] and she will coordinate with the entire crew.
Nimble and dynamic are two attributes well suited for our industry, and Country Sweet Produce is living up to the value of each one.
