Pride Packing taps Oppenheimer as marketing partner
Pride Packing taps Oppenheimer as marketing partner
Capitalizing on a strong stone fruit market and looking ahead to future opportunities, The Oppenheimer Group and Pride Packing Co. have joined forces.
The recently announced alliance with the Wapato, WA-based Pride represents Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer's first full-scale venture into domestic stone fruit marketing.
"Pride is known for producing some of Washingtons finest nectarines, peaches, pears and apples," said John Anderson, Oppenheimers chairman, president and CEO. This grower shares our passion for bringing fruit with excellent flavor, color and condition to the marketplace. Our association will further develop our stone fruit and apple and pear categories and help us meet our customers needs better.
Pride grows a range of items on more than 3,000 acres and is among the larger stone fruit producers in Washington by volume. Oppenheimer will sell about 15 percent of the growers 2005 nectarine and peach production under the Oppenheimer brand this season, and Pride will market the balance under its own label.
As part of our go-to-market strategy, Oppenheimer fits perfectly into our long-range objectives, said Steve Phipps, Prides national director of sales and marketing. The partnership will allow Pride to focus on best-in-class programs while Oppenheimer markets the fruit. We believe that our connection with the highly respected marketer will help raise the bar in meeting or exceeding the industry standards for our fresh fruit program.
Were a true tree-ripe grower, Mr. Phipps continued. Our harvesting methods allow the fruit to be picked at peak maturity. We prune for size and take extreme measures to allow our fruit to get ample sunlight for optimum color.
Marc Serpa, Oppenheimers stone fruit category manager, said that by taking these steps, Pride assures that its fruit delivers an excellent eating experience.
This grower does a great job of focusing on pressure, size and color, and pays particular attention to flavor, Mr. Serpa said. Unlike many of its competitors, Pride undertakes up to five picks per harvest season, assuring that all fruit is harvested at the ideal time. Were very happy to present fruit of this quality to the market in our branded pack.
Mr. Serpa also mentioned that Pride has young plantings of preferred peach and nectarine varieties, noting that Oppenheimer admires this entrepreneurial approach.
Oppenheimer began shipping stone fruit at the end of July, and the season will continue through early October. The fruit is available in one- and two-layer trays and volume fills. Oppenheimer also markets stone fruit grown in Chile and New Zealand through the winter months.
Pride produces apples and pears in addition to stone fruit, and Oppenheimer plans to market a portion of this years harvest in its branded box beginning later this month.
The recently announced alliance with the Wapato, WA-based Pride represents Vancouver, BC-based Oppenheimer's first full-scale venture into domestic stone fruit marketing.
"Pride is known for producing some of Washingtons finest nectarines, peaches, pears and apples," said John Anderson, Oppenheimers chairman, president and CEO. This grower shares our passion for bringing fruit with excellent flavor, color and condition to the marketplace. Our association will further develop our stone fruit and apple and pear categories and help us meet our customers needs better.
Pride grows a range of items on more than 3,000 acres and is among the larger stone fruit producers in Washington by volume. Oppenheimer will sell about 15 percent of the growers 2005 nectarine and peach production under the Oppenheimer brand this season, and Pride will market the balance under its own label.
As part of our go-to-market strategy, Oppenheimer fits perfectly into our long-range objectives, said Steve Phipps, Prides national director of sales and marketing. The partnership will allow Pride to focus on best-in-class programs while Oppenheimer markets the fruit. We believe that our connection with the highly respected marketer will help raise the bar in meeting or exceeding the industry standards for our fresh fruit program.
Were a true tree-ripe grower, Mr. Phipps continued. Our harvesting methods allow the fruit to be picked at peak maturity. We prune for size and take extreme measures to allow our fruit to get ample sunlight for optimum color.
Marc Serpa, Oppenheimers stone fruit category manager, said that by taking these steps, Pride assures that its fruit delivers an excellent eating experience.
This grower does a great job of focusing on pressure, size and color, and pays particular attention to flavor, Mr. Serpa said. Unlike many of its competitors, Pride undertakes up to five picks per harvest season, assuring that all fruit is harvested at the ideal time. Were very happy to present fruit of this quality to the market in our branded pack.
Mr. Serpa also mentioned that Pride has young plantings of preferred peach and nectarine varieties, noting that Oppenheimer admires this entrepreneurial approach.
Oppenheimer began shipping stone fruit at the end of July, and the season will continue through early October. The fruit is available in one- and two-layer trays and volume fills. Oppenheimer also markets stone fruit grown in Chile and New Zealand through the winter months.
Pride produces apples and pears in addition to stone fruit, and Oppenheimer plans to market a portion of this years harvest in its branded box beginning later this month.
