Fresh Plaza: Oppy’s new hydroponic strawberry line sets the table for category growth
Expectations are high for the first-ever Ocean Spray® specialty berry pack which debuts this fall, backed by a trio of partners intent on elevating the category with a unique tabletop strawberry proposition.
New Wave Berry, LLC is a joint venture formed by grower, marketer and distributor Oppy, family-owned agribusiness Red Dog Management and agricultural investment firm Farmers Gate. Its new hydroponic tabletop strawberry line will be grown in a newly-constructed high-tunnel facility in Santa Maria, CA. Building upon Oppy’s exclusive partnership with Ocean Spray, the agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 farmer families, the venture looks to further advance strawberry production practices and bring a sustainable item to market.
In addition to sustainability improvements, the new venture is largely an opportunity to grow strawberries in a way that will handle volatility in the weather. On the retail end, it allows for offering a more consistent, high quality strawberry…
