Mastronardi Produce/Sunset, headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, has various greenhouses growing gourmet tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers throughout North America, with distribution facilities in strategic locations.

Nancy Pickersgill, events and communication manager for the company said that currently the company’s Canadian and U.S. greenhouses are in full production.

The Mastronardi family members inside a Mastronardi/Sunset greenhouse.“Regardless of the location where they are being produced, all of our tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are greenhouse grown naturally under the same high-quality conditions,” she said. “With grilling season upon us at this time, our ‘Sunset’ Beefsteak tomatoes are a popular item for topping burgers.”

Mastronardi Produce also produces an organic line of greenhouse produce. The organics’ line includes a variety of tomatoes, peppers, English cucumbers and mini cucumbers, based on consumer demands.

The company’s biggest selling organic items have been and remain to be the “Sunset” organic tomatoes-on-the-vine, grape tomatoes, bell peppers and mini cucumbers.

Pickersgill noted that the company remains on the cutting edge of trends, production, food safety and more.

“Each year, we travel the world to research and find the most innovative packaging formats, always with our goal of keeping retail footprints, consumer demand and sustainability on the forefront,” she said. “We recently received top honors from the Packaging Association Competition, commonly referred to as PAC, for Marketing Brand Revitalization — Food Category for our ‘Sunset’ brand.  Our new ‘Sunset’ ‘Inspired By Flavor’ brand revitalization will be rolled out this summer.”

Mastronardi Produce/Sunset also won best new packaging at the United Fresh show this year for its “Sunset” display-ready box.

The box is a shipper, storage and marketing tool all in one. This is a convenient method of shipping to retailers that is sustainable and offers multipurpose use.

The company is far ahead of the required food-safety and traceability requirements of customers today.

“Food safety is a top priority for Sunset Produce,” said Pickersgill. “We operate under a food-safety system that utilizes the internationally accepted Safe Quality Foods standards.”

Mastronardi Produce/Sunset’s distribution range stretches far and wide. It distributes its products nationwide in North America and in Japan, the Caribbean and, most recently, to Taiwan.

“With our strategically located distribution centers we have the ability to supply to retailers throughout North America anytime with ease and consistency,” added Pickersgill.

“With increased information on the benefits of eating healthy available to consumers everywhere today, people are taking heed and are more conscious than ever before about their diets,” she continued. “Creating healthy, flavorful meals with quality products is an important factor for consumers. Our greenhouse-grown produce offers unique varieties of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to compliment any meal or choice for healthy snacking.”

Mastronardi Produce headquarters is going through a major expansion this year. The facility will double in size and be more efficient in distribution. The increase in space is related to the company adding additional greenhouse acres this year.

“We continue to seek out opportunities that are innovative and benefit Mastronardi Produce’s ‘Sunset’ brand,” said Pickersgill. 

“Our newest state-of-the-art greenhouse in Coldwater, MI, is located in an area that enables us to distribute fresh and high-quality locally grown greenhouse produce to four surrounding states. The increasing popularity of consumers wanting a better understanding and connection to their food, locally grown produce is becoming more prominent on retail shelves everywhere.”