SUMMERLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - Both familiar and friendly new faces await as our industry gears up for the fast-approaching Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show. With the event on the horizon, Rebecca Catlett, Director of Marketing and Communications for Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), recently shared with me some offerings the supplier will be showcasing.

“Our volume and production levels have increased, and we’ve started exploring exciting opportunities within Canada,” Rebecca tells me. “We hope this year’s trade show will present new partnerships so that more Canadians can begin enjoying all the benefits that Arctic® apples offer.”

The Okanagan Specialty Fruits booth will be adorned with the company’s full and versatile product line, including its Arctic® Golden and Arctic® Granny varieties in both sliced and diced options.

“Our 2 oz package option is the perfect size for kids, along with our 5 oz fresh sliced option that is convenient for grab ’n go healthy snacking,” explains Rebecca. “Now is also a great time to spotlight our 20 oz and 40 oz foodservice packs as school nutrition programs start planning their fall menus. Our pre-sliced and pre-diced Arctic apple varieties reduce labor and prep time and offer a 28-day shelf-life to help minimize unnecessary waste. This makes it easier for foodservice operators to incorporate more apples into their menus where they might not have been able to before.”

As Rebecca shares, the apple provider has many exciting projects underway for 2023. One of the most exciting developments is the construction of OSF’s new centralized facility for receiving, storing, processing, packing, and shipping Arctic apples. Located in Moses Lake, Washington, the cutting-edge facility allows the supplier to focus on accelerating its production capabilities while continuing to deliver superior quality to its customers.

Further growth can be seen on the science side, as OSF has expanded its research and development team and is eager to collaborate with the produce industry and have discussions about where its knowledge and expertise can be leveraged across other crops.

“Visitors can stop by booth #1107 to meet with our sales and marketing team and discover the freshly-picked flavor of both our Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny varieties,” Rebecca shares. “We want to connect and learn more about attendees’ businesses and the current challenges they are facing. We are open to discussing custom cuts, package sizes, and partnership and collaboration opportunities. The goal really is to get more apples in more places!”

Don’t forget to stroll by booth #1107. I promise you won’t regret it!

Keep reading ANUK for more updates from this trade show and beyond.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits