REDCLIFF, ALBERTA - Oppy’s greenhouse grower brand, Frank & Able, sent off the first shipment of its tomatoes-on-the-vine—the ones that were grown in its newly-expanded facility. Brothers Dirk and Keith Vis, as well as brother-in-law Devin Jaspers, nearly doubled the acreage under lights ahead of the first snowfall and are set to meet the winter demand for Canadian TOVs.
“As Canadian consumers have increasingly expressed their desire to have local food options in grocery stores year-round, we are proud to help provide this with the expansion of our facility,” said Dirk Vis, General Manager. “When you experience the harsh conditions of a winter on the prairies, you recognize pretty quickly why the production of vegetables in our area isn’t an endeavor many sought out. Fueled by an excitement to fill the void of local produce in the market, we take on these environmental challenges with a state-of-the-art facility along with a knowledge and passion for growing.”
Last spring, Frank & Able announced a partnership with Oppy, which allowed the company to burst onto the scene with a distinctive brand and an even more distinctive product. Oppy currently markets Frank & Able TOVs in bulk, vexar, and random-weight cello bags.
“The quality has been nothing short of fantastic,” said Aaron Quon, Oppy's Executive Category Director of Greenhouse. “We are consistently impressed, and so are the customers who stock Frank & Able in Canada and throughout the U.S. Now that we’ve moved into the new winter crop, these tomatoes-on-the-vine are not to be missed.”
Quon also noted that despite challenges presented by last summer’s TOV market, steady and reliable supplies of Frank & Able tomatoes boosted the brand with Western Canadian customers.
“Dirk and the team chose the brand promise Put the best on your table, and there’s no question that they live up to it,” Quon said. “They care a great deal about every aspect of producing flavorful, juicy tomatoes. With the expansion, and the unique proposition of Canadian TOVs in the winter time, we’re eager to grow with Frank & Able.”
For the latest in fresh produce updates like this, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.
