This one is close to home. That's the feeling Windset Farms® has going into this week's CPMA show in Toronto on April 25-27. "Windset Farms is a B.C.-based, family-owned company that has been in the greenhouse industry for 27 years now," says Ryan Cherry, Windset Director of Sales. What started with four acres in B.C. has grown to more than 1,500 acres of controlled environment agriculture across North America. "It's really sustainable growth that's enabled us to supply customers with high-quality greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables year-round," shares Cherry.
Left: Ryan Cherry; right: the YOOM® black cocktail tomato
For this show, Windset is coming with an armload to talk about. "I don't think we've ever presented as many new offerings across all categories to the marketplace," says Cherry. "Of course, we have our Product Showcase features, but there are also many other new varieties, both conventional and organic, that aren't currently in the market that we're excited to share with customers."
The company will have a number of items going into the Product Showcase, starting with their newly introduced YOOM, an umami-flavored black cocktail tomato. Also in the tomato category are Tri-Colour Cameo® Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine. "These are super sweet with a nice array of colors, red, orange, and brown, and can be used for salads or snacking. It displays beautifully on the shelf," Cherry says, noting these are available in 12 oz. and 1.5 lb. packs.
Organic program on display
Windset will also display their Organics line. "We've offered an Organics line since 2017 and slowly have been adding to our roster of products," says Cherry. "We've really listened to consumers' increased demand for snacking varieties and expanded our Organics program to fill that need in the market. We've added medley and grape tomatoes, mini cucumbers, and mini peppers, but we also have your classic tomatoes on the vine, bell peppers, and even Campari Tomatoes. It's a one-stop shop for customers who want to expand their greenhouse Organic offerings."
In addition, sustainable packaging options will be discussed with clients. "It's about seeing what's the best fit for them, their consumer, and the environment. Using sustainable packaging, whether that be paper or plastic, is always a priority and something our team is constantly working on behind the scenes," Cherry says.
While Windset is ready to talk shop over products, ultimately, they're looking forward to the "face-to-face" factor of an in-person show. "CPMA has a record number of new members this year, and it's certainly prevalent at the events I've attended so far. We look forward to reconnecting with industry members throughout the week," Cherry says.
That also means offering booth visitors a chance to sample products. "Letting them see the product firsthand, taste it, see the packaging, and have a chance to speak to our team really opens up some exciting opportunities," says Cherry. "There's nothing like the face-to-face at shows." Visit Windset Farms at booth #1621.
For more information:
Randi Church
Windset Farms
Tel.: +1 (778) 908 1029
[email protected]
www.greenhousegrown.com