OsoSweet's Lone Star crop off to good start
OsoSweet's Lone Star crop off to good start
After pioneering the winter sweet onion category over 20 years ago in Chile, OsoSweet is expanding its season and moving north to Texas.
"We're off to a great start, despite there being a lot of onions in the marketplace," John Battle of Battle Produce Exchange in Traverse City, MI, the exclusive sales agent for the "OsoSweet" brand, said in a press release.
"Even though this is a small test crop for us -- about 25,000 40-pound cartons -- reception by the trade has been terrific," Mr. Battle added in the release. "We're a little over two weeks into the deal and already in major markets such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit, with good distribution in the West, Midwest and Southeast. Like our Chilean crop, we also exported some of the Texas OsoSweets to Europe for distribution to France, Spain and the Netherlands."
The window for the Texas OsoSweet deal is April-May, which follows on the heels of the winter deal of January-March.
"This is the first step of taking the brand beyond its typical winter season," Rodger Helwig, OsoSweet marketing director, who is based in San Francisco, added in the press release. "Consumers have often told us that they wish OsoSweets were in season year round."
Mr. Helwig added, "The 'OsoSweet' name has become one of the most recognized in sweet onions with both consumers and the trade. We've built a brand that's become known for quality and consistency year after year, and that's something we want to continue to build on as we expand and take advantage of new marketing opportunities."
Sizing for the new crop, which is grown in south Texas, should come in at 15 percent colossal, 70 percent jumbo and 15 percent medium. Yields are comparable to Chile, from a growing season with good weather and no significant problems.
"We're using the same proprietary seed variety and strict grower protocols as we do in Chile," Mr. Battle added. "That growing program has been extremely successful in South America, and we feel it will work for us in Texas. So far, the results are outstanding."
While most of the crop will be shipped in 40-pound cartons, special two-, three- and five-pound packs are available on request. The brand is also offering point-of-purchase materials to support the introduction.
Major newspaper food editors in the test markets will be targeted for coverage.
"After two decades of success in the sweet onion business with steady, measured growth each season, we're in no hurry to rush our new ventures," Mr. Helwig said. "This has been in the planning stages for several seasons, and we're dedicated to making this a solid program that will carry on the tradition of what we've achieved in Chile."
"We're off to a great start, despite there being a lot of onions in the marketplace," John Battle of Battle Produce Exchange in Traverse City, MI, the exclusive sales agent for the "OsoSweet" brand, said in a press release.
"Even though this is a small test crop for us -- about 25,000 40-pound cartons -- reception by the trade has been terrific," Mr. Battle added in the release. "We're a little over two weeks into the deal and already in major markets such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit, with good distribution in the West, Midwest and Southeast. Like our Chilean crop, we also exported some of the Texas OsoSweets to Europe for distribution to France, Spain and the Netherlands."
The window for the Texas OsoSweet deal is April-May, which follows on the heels of the winter deal of January-March.
"This is the first step of taking the brand beyond its typical winter season," Rodger Helwig, OsoSweet marketing director, who is based in San Francisco, added in the press release. "Consumers have often told us that they wish OsoSweets were in season year round."
Mr. Helwig added, "The 'OsoSweet' name has become one of the most recognized in sweet onions with both consumers and the trade. We've built a brand that's become known for quality and consistency year after year, and that's something we want to continue to build on as we expand and take advantage of new marketing opportunities."
Sizing for the new crop, which is grown in south Texas, should come in at 15 percent colossal, 70 percent jumbo and 15 percent medium. Yields are comparable to Chile, from a growing season with good weather and no significant problems.
"We're using the same proprietary seed variety and strict grower protocols as we do in Chile," Mr. Battle added. "That growing program has been extremely successful in South America, and we feel it will work for us in Texas. So far, the results are outstanding."
While most of the crop will be shipped in 40-pound cartons, special two-, three- and five-pound packs are available on request. The brand is also offering point-of-purchase materials to support the introduction.
Major newspaper food editors in the test markets will be targeted for coverage.
"After two decades of success in the sweet onion business with steady, measured growth each season, we're in no hurry to rush our new ventures," Mr. Helwig said. "This has been in the planning stages for several seasons, and we're dedicated to making this a solid program that will carry on the tradition of what we've achieved in Chile."
