“We are very well known for our popular ‘Sunset’ brand greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplant,” said Daniela Ferro, communications coordinator for Mastronardi Produce Ltd, headquartered in Kingsville, ON. “And we have strategically positioned distribution facilities across North America to reduce food miles and to better service our customers.”

Mastronardi Produce has a more than 60-year history in the greenhouse industry. The first generation in the company to grow greenhouse produce in Ontario was Umberto Mastronardi, who realized a need for the growing system in the early 1940s. Today, four generations later, the Mastronardi family still owns and manages the company. It grows and sells world-class tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, baby eggplants, lettuce and berries.

Mastronardi’s ‘Sunset Y.E.L.O.’ prize-winning tomatoes.“In the spirit of Umberto Mastronardi, we continue to pioneer new greenhouse technology, sustainable growing practices and the protection of heritage, old-world produce varieties,” said Ferro. “Our main headquarters in Kingsville has been expanding over the past six months to accommodate our growing business. Our Coldwater greenhouse has broken ground and is doubling in size to accommodate our locally grown program. We expect completion of that expansion to be in the summer of this year.”

The Coldwater facility was originally opened for production in 2012. It is currently in Phase II of the project.

Ferro noted that “Mastronardi Produce/Sunset” had a great week in terms of awards in early June. It’s “Sunset Y.E.L.O.” tomato took the award for Best New Vegetable at the United Fresh exposition, and during the weekend of June 14, the company’s “Zima” tomato was dubbed the Best Overall Hothouse Tomato at the Hottest Tomato competition. “Sunset” sweet bell peppers were also voted People’s Choice for Perfect Pepper.

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

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

The company has been a certified-organic handler since 2010, and is National Organic Program-certified and Canada Organic Regime-certified.

Its extensive organic line of “Campari” brand cocktail tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes on the vine, beefsteak tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and English cucumbers has recently been expanded.

“Our newest organic item is ‘Sunset’ mini cucumbers,” announced Ferro. “These mini cucumbers have become extremely popular among many consumers, especially those with children who are looking for a healthy snack.”