Live Oak Farms Announces Expanded Pepper Program, Noting New Bell Pepper Packing Line and Category
LE GRAND, CA - A brand new era is about to begin for Live Oak Farms’ pepper program. The California-based grower and shipper is not only introducing jalapeños to its offerings for the very first time, but also will be employing a new multi-million-dollar and high-tech pepper pack line.
“We’d set out to raise the bar on field bell pepper quality, and today a new era has begun for Live Oak Farms. Well over two years of planning went into the design of the new pack line, which incorporates the latest grading technology and high levels of automation,” said Ed Beckman, Chief Operations Officer.
Its no surprise that Live Oak Farms has invested substantial time and money into the new line given the company’s known commitment to quality.
“We’d benchmarked quality at over twenty bell pepper operations throughout the world,” Beckman explained. “There are elements of the most advanced Holland-based greenhouse operations found in this line, which can pack multiple types of bell peppers with a fraction of the workforce that had been required in the past.”
The new line incorporates multiple camera systems developed by pepper grading technology leader Aweta, and allows Live Oak to broaden the number of packs, including private label projects. Customers have been asking that the company expand its quality standards to a wider range of product, and Live Oak has more than answered their needs.
“We’re now positioning our colored bell production around a model of product flexibility,” said Beckman. “We’re up for the challenge of meeting the most demanding requirements. Our quality standard may begin with the quality of our peppers, but our vision of quality extends to the service we provide our customers. And that means we’re looking to grow the pepper category through innovation in packaging.”
Along with packaging, Live Oak Farms has also been committed to providing its customers with only varieties that have been tried and tested. According to a press release, the company evaluates dozens of varieties each year, with only the best advancing to its commercial production.
“Our colored bell program begins in late July and features both elongated red and blocky yellows,” stated Donna Giampaoli Vaughan, a partner and sales team member. “With the new packing line, we have greater options to meet the needs of our existing customer base and new customers. We’re excited about the possibilities and have already entertained inquiries from customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.”
After a three-year search for a premium pepper, jalapeños have now joined the Live Oaks lineup with limited volume in 2018.
“We have customers who’ve been asking for a better jalapeño, one grown in California that could be featured as part of a California-grown campaign,” said Vaughan. “We’re looking forward to growing and packing a better hot pepper to meet the demands of an ever-expanding hot pepper category.”
From the sounds of it, it doesn’t look like Live Oak Farms team will be slowing down anytime soon. For more on the company as it continues its growth, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
