West Coast Tomato Growers programme will be enhanced by the introduction of red sweet bell peppers
Oppy has revealed that a surprise new item will grow and travel alongside Oceanside Pole’s Roma and round tomatoes this summer.
Following a successful 2024 trial, Oceanside Pole began commercial production of red sweet bell peppers.
The team is projecting approximately 150,000 cases available October through December, described as a strategic window when supply tends to be limited in North America due to the seasonal transitions between Canadian and Mexican production.
“Timing can be everything in fresh produce,” said James Galindo, senior sales representative and category manager for Oppy, which exclusively markets West Coast Tomato Growers’ products.
“By shipping at a point when red bell availability traditionally dips, we can provide much-needed consistency to our partners,” he explained. “It’s a smart expansion that complements the tomato programme well.”
Meanwhile, Galindo shared that the tomato crop is also shaping up well.
“We’re planning for 2.2mn cases of rounds and 750,000 cases of Romas this year,” he said.
”The rounds harvest will begin in late June or early July, followed by Romas about three weeks later.
“The quality is shaping up beautifully, and we’re excited about what’s ahead,” Galindo outlined.
The Oceanside Pole programme is described by Oppy as ”unique in the market” as the last remaining commercial scale vine-ripened pole-grown tomato operation west of the Mississippi River, offering customers “a rich flavour and exceptional slicing quality”.
“These are tomatoes that really deliver on flavour and performance,” Galindo added. “They’ve become a go-to in produce departments and shoppers who care about quality.”
