Earlier this month, CBC Radio caught up with Vice President of Canadian Sales Walt Breeden to discuss the growth of the citrus category and Oppy’s important role in building the easy-peel orange market since we sold the first Japanese mandarins in 1891. You can read it here. The article describes how oranges were tucked into … Continued
The animal lovers in our Chicago office made the holidays a little brighter for local four-legged friends with donations of pet food to two animal shelters last weekend. Inspired by the recent experience of adopting shelter dog Alfie, a terrier-boxer mix, and supported by Senior Sales Representative Dan Wickland, pet parent to a pup named … Continued
Fruits and vegetables weren’t the only thing sprouting up at Oppy in November—seven “Mo Bros” and one “Mo Sista” were raising awareness for Movember by growing what they could on their upper lip. Movember is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches during the month of November to draw attention to men’s health issues … Continued
The discovery of E. coli on romaine lettuce grown in California a few weeks ago took over the headlines leading up to the U.S. Thanksgiving, causing the leafy vegetable to disappear from stockrooms, store shelves and crisper drawers while the Center for Disease Control (CDC) sought the source of the issue. This outbreak is one … Continued
Wanting to give back to the community and support a new charity, the Visalia office decided to sponsor six families through a local parish, the Bethlehem Center, to provide all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal. Everyone in the office pitched in for five families of four and one family of six. Accounting Assistant Nancy … Continued
Having completed a five year, $125,000 pledge to raise funds for BC Women’s NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) the Vancouver team believed so deeply in the cause they decided to extend the commitment another 12 months. The office raised funds throughout the year—via a pumpkin sale, Halloween candy grams and a car wash—as well as … Continued
Congrats to the Chicago office for winning the Oppy Oscar for Best Celebration—Short Film!
As part of our year-long anniversary celebration, each Oppy office was challenged to submit an original video showcasing their festivities celebrating our 160th birthday. Entries would be judged on originality, creativity, and the best representation of our history, and the winner would be featured on Oppy’s new YouTube channel. The entries came flooding in, and … Continued
In mid-October, the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit drew our global growers, retail partners and media friends together with Oppy people to explore opportunities, share ideas and plan for the future. While we got down to business at dozens of grower and retailer meetings, other highlights included a standing-room-only industry session on food safety facilitated … Continued
From Seattle to Issaquah, Wenatchee to Brewster and ending in Pateros, the Oppy team of BDRs, category leaders and marketing staff took an educational (and scenic!) tour through Washington state in mid-September. Meeting with colleagues from Ocean Spray, Zespri, Crane & Crane and BC Tree Fruits, the week was full of constant learning. BDR Manager … Continued
In early September Oppy donated fruit in exchange for sponsorship of the world-renowned TED event in Vancouver, TEDx, featuring former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell. Oppy was acknowledged as one of BC’s Top Employers (and not to mention, older than Canada itself!) from the stage while ten of our staff received complementary passes to join in … Continued
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Agatha lived in Poland for two years before immigrating to Canada when she was 6 years old. She attended Capilano University before transferring to the Sauder School of Business at UBC where she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and officially became a chartered accountant through the CA School of … Continued
The Newark and Manfredi offices have been busy playing games to raise money for the Carasmark Backpack Project including bingo, mini putt, bean bag toss and more! The team presented a check for over $500 to President Shannon Lynch that was used to purchase backpacks and school supplies. Kim Holiday, senior grower accountant, and Holly … Continued
Many thanks to Chris Kurylo, sales and operations finance executive director, for hosting a fun BBQ with the A&F team last month. The group munched on veggie dips, hot dogs and hamburgers while having a friendly bean bag toss competition. Showing up all the bean counters, Facilities Coordinator, Russell Watts won the match while Executive Assistant, … Continued
When Grower Accountant Faraz Qureshi isn’t crunching numbers, he can be found crunching hikes, camping or travelling somewhere new. When he heard of the Rugged Maniac coming to town he knew he wanted to share his love of the outdoors with his coworkers at Oppy. “We’re all interconnected on a daily basis and I wanted … Continued
Born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Villalba, Puerto Rico, Evelyn studied biology at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Moving back to the U.S. in 2012, she was hired at Manfredi Cold Storage, Oppy’s repacking and distribution center, as a shipping and receiving clerk and promoted to customer service representative. Officially hired at … Continued
Late last month, Organics Category Manager Chris Ford and Corporate Communications Director Karin Gardner rode alongside T&G’s Chris Willett to represent JAZZ apples in the 2018 Tour de Fresh, an annual industry fundraiser that brings salad bars to schools in areas where fruits and vegetables may not otherwise be readily available to young people. Spanning … Continued
Eager to show growers in New Zealand what happens to their apples when they arrive at Oppy locations, we whipped out a camera and followed the fruit around the warehouse in Vancouver. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the care and attention our Ops/QC team gives these tasty apples! Shout out to our graphic designer Matt … Continued
Born into the farming industry, Craig grew up in the Lower Mainland of BC where his parents ran a hobby farm. Continuing in fresh foods and grocery, he stocked shelves at Safeway through high school and sold Frito Lay chips in college. After spending 12 years in the Okanagan and acquiring his bachelor’s degree in … Continued
A new “anti-idling” program has been put in place at the Vancouver warehouse thanks to the sustainability committee. Recently focusing their initiatives on transportation by reducing pollution, engine emissions and costs, the idle-free signs were installed by Russell Watts last month. Signs are hung in the docks that are currently active for shipping and receiving. … Continued
Consisting of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run, Corporate Communications Director Karin Gardner raced among 2,100 fellow athletes in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho last month. Karin was ecstatic to hit most of her goals and beat her time from last year, finishing third in her age group and qualifying for … Continued
Next month, Organics Category Manager Chris Ford and Corporate Communications Director Karin Gardner return to the Tour de Fresh, a 4-day, 285 mile cycling event that raises funds for school salad bars. Wearing JAZZ apple colors, they will be joined by T&G’s Chris Willett, forming a speedy trio committed to building the JAZZ apple brand … Continued
Doug Grant was joined by Oppy teammates Steve Roosdahl, Tom Stewart and Jason Shelefontiuk for his fifth ride in the West Coast Cycle for Sight. Making the top 10 list for fundraising teams, they raised almost $5,000 towards a total of over $280,000. Oppy sponsored the event by providing fresh produce to 130 participants—an increase … Continued
Originally from the Philippines, Liza received her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and moved to the U.S. to get her MBA from Santa Clara University. After her studies, she worked as a senior accountant for Dole Fresh Fruit and then took on a new role as stay-at-home mom to her six children. Managing the yearly school … Continued
More than 40,000 people laced up for the 10 km race along Vancouver’s sunny shores on April 22. Including 13 Oppy people and their families, the 35th annual Sun Run made for lots of fun in the sun.
Under bright springtime skies, Vancouver, BC put its best face forward for visitors to the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s annual trade show last week. Not to be outshone, Oppy embraced customers, growers, and members of the trade media in a style that only a company with 160 years of local history could achieve. Our hockey … Continued
Instead of playing it safe with a typical agenda for the Vancouver office’s annual Health & Safety week, this year’s event diverted from first aid and emergency preparedness to spotlight instead on personal safety and healthy lifestyles. Mirza Dedic hosted a popular and interactive workshop on how to safely manage numerous passwords. Two sessions of … Continued
Earlier this month, Amy Bianchi, Goran Adzic and Craig Winford braved the frigid climes of southeastern Alberta to help get the Frank & Able Tomato on-the-vine season off to a terrific start. While temperatures hovered in the single digits Fahrenheit, our team built on the warm relationship that is growing between Oppy and the innovative … Continued
Donald traveled the world before landing in the Toronto Oppy office four years ago. Born and raised in the Netherlands, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Larenstein International Agriculture College—a school that would ready impressionable students by sending them to overseas Dutch colonies to manage plantations and trade. While spending … Continued
Kim made her way to the West Coast over the years eventually landing in our Visalia, Calif. office in September 2014. Born and raised in Ohio, Kim attended Edison Community College and the University of Pheonix to study business accounting. She worked as an accounts payable manager and IT supervisor in two hospitals before moving … Continued