With decades of experience in the fresh produce industry, Michael Cutler Co. has built its reputation on quality onions and dependable service across North America. Now, the Peckville, PA-based grower-shipper is entering a new chapter with the launch of OSO Fresh, a brand designed to strengthen its market presence and deliver added value to customers.

“Building on the success of the Oso Sweet label, we weere able to come up with a new brand for our recent customer interest in our red program,” said Michael Cutler. “We saw an opportunity to introduce a complementary brand that broadens our presence while delivering the same commitment to quality, consistency and value our customers expect.”

OSO Fresh will offer red onions, yellow onions, citrus, watermelons and sweet onions, geared toward both retail and foodservice customers. 

“While many of these items are part of our existing portfolio, OSO Fresh allows us to present them under a unified, versatile brand platform designed to support category expansion and enhanced merchandising opportunities,” Cutler said. “We are looking forward to maintaining our current brands and this brings an opportunity to expand into other items and deliver greater value to our customers through strong, recognizable branding.”

This will be one of the topics of conversation as the company heads to Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure.

“We’ve proudly maintained a booth at SEPC for many years,” Cutler said. “This year, our primary goal is to strengthen existing relationships while expanding our reach within both the retail and foodservice sectors.”

The company will be exhibiting at booth No. 337 where visitors will see its new OSO Red Onion label alongside its signature OSO Sweet Onions. 

Additionally, Herschel Durrence, one of the company’s Vidalia growers, will be onsite for meet-and-greets and conversations about the upcoming season.

“SEPC is a fantastic event that allows us to connect with long-standing partners and industry friends in a more intimate setting,” Cutler said. “A successful show, in our view, means having meaningful conversations, building new connections and of course, enjoying a ‘rootin’ tootin’ good time. We’re excited and optimistic that this year will be even better.”

When it comes to onions and specialty vegetables, the company is seeing softer demand compared to previous years. 

“After several strong seasons, supplies have increased, while current economic pressures have influenced consumer purchasing behavior,” Cutler said. “This dynamic is creating a more competitive environment across onions and specialty vegetables.”

In recent years, the Michael Cutler Co. has focused on building a strong, collaborative team while aligning itself with the right grower partners across the United States. 

“These relationships, combined with our emphasis of high standards for service and quality, have positioned us to become stronger and more competitive in the marketplace,” Cutler said. “The industry is becoming increasingly competitive, which means everyone must operate more efficiently and deliver greater value. Our priority is to work smarter, strengthen partnerships and continue improving execution. Despite challenges, we’re optimistic about the future and committed to working harder and doing an even better job to grow our business.”