VANCOUVER, CANADA - The trade show season isn’t over just yet, as Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Innovations is coming to Nashville, Tennessee, September 22–24. One operator ramping up for the event is Oppy, which will be bringing a full suite of offerings to the show floor. As we inch closer toward the event, I linked up with Senior Business Development Representative Caitlin Gerstenberger.

“We look forward to getting people excited about the full range of products Oppy has to offer as well as fresh crops on their way,” she began. “Oppy has been a leader in the industry for a very long time. As we approach our 165^th anniversary, we continue to deliver new products and pack styles, constantly working with retail and wholesale customers to drive their sales forward. If you come to our booth, you will leave with solutions.”

The Oppy team will be bringing with them a wide range of products. The supplier’s booth will feature Ocean Spray berries—highlighting the Happy Berry™ hydroponic strawberries; Eco Farms avocados—available year-round in both conventional and organic; Divemex sweet bell peppers, mini peppers, and long English cucumbers—which come in a variety of options from conventional, organic, Fair Trade, and Fair Trade organic; Envy™ apples and JAZZ™ apples; and Zespri® kiwifruit—green and SunGold™ varieties.

“One of our newest products we’re excited to feature is Happy Berry hydroponic strawberries. Standing out for their exceptional quality and overall consistency, Happy Berry is grown year-round in a protected ecosystem on tabletops raised to chest height, easing labor while reducing the need for chemical inputs and eliminating ground fumigation,” Caitlin told me. “Growing hydroponically enables plants to use dramatically less water and, because they’re grown closer together, their high yield leaves a smaller footprint.”

In addition to being a grower, marketer, and distributor of fresh produce, part of the Oppy advantage is its full-service operations and supply chain teams alongside Oppy Transport—the company’s transportation and logistics branch. Offering a wide array of solutions to manage the ongoing impacts of supply chain issues, Oppy can assist all of your needs on one truck.

Bringing all of this and much more to the Southern Innovations floor, Caitlin relayed that networking opportunities are top of mind at the show.

“The quality of people in this organization is second to none in the industry; I’m always so honored to be a part of SEPC’s events,” she continued. “Not only is it an opportunity to showcase our products and innovative developments, it’s also a time to sit down, connect, and have informative brainstorming sessions on what we can do to push the industry further ahead.”

When asked why all industry members should attend Southern Innovations, Caitlin’s response was simple.

“’Cause it’s awesome! But in all seriousness, it’s a show that has a very high attendance rate from all facets of the industry; it’s a really well-represented show. No matter who you want to connect with, you will find them there. It’s also a lot more relaxed than other shows can be, so people are more inclined to give you more of their free time,” Caitlin added.

Be sure to visit booth #105 to talk shop with the Oppy team and get a closer look at these innovative offerings.

Oppy