NatureFresh Farms will once again be headed to the United Fresh 2019 Convention & Expo, occupying booth No. 2019. Kara Badder, marketing project manager for the Leamington, ON-based grower, said it will be an easy one for people to remember.
“We will be putting more emphasis on conversations about #TheFutureOfFresh,” she said. “Sustainability is something that means a lot to our company, and we will continue to showcase our new compostable tray, alongside discussions of future plans.”
Four members of the NatureFresh Farms team will be attending the show: Matt Quiring, Conor Chilvers, Sarah Kryszik and Badder.
“Any show where we have the opportunity to be involved in conversations regarding the future of the produce industry is a valuable one to us,” Badder said. “Events such as United Fresh are important ways to build connections and continue to bring our industry together. Participating in United Fresh is a chance to connect with partners and other industry leaders. Conversations and thought-provoking sessions are invaluable such as the ones as these events are invaluable to our growth.”
Back on the farm, the company recently planted its first plants in its new 32-acre greenhouse expansion. The new facility will grow more tomato assortments, with supplemental lighting assisting in year-round production.
“This expansion will assist in meeting sustainability initiatives by reducing food miles with more locally grown produce in our greenhouses,” Badder said. “It will also increase our production and efficiency in the growing process, while consistently providing high-quality products, giving Canadian consumers a greater opportunity to purchase locally grown produce throughout the year.”
Speaking of sustainability, the company is proud of is its efforts with its compostable cucumber tray.
“That’s still very exciting for us,” Badder said. “When put in someone’s backyard, our cucumber tray can decompose within 60-90 days. Consumer feedback has been tremendous with this new product and confirms that our desire to be more sustainable is echoed across the board.”
Listening to the feedback from customers has been an important component to the company’s success.
“At NatureFresh Farms we put a lot of emphasis on having direct conversations with consumers to understand their perspectives and future trends,” she said. “Having these relationships and gaining direct insights from a very large sample size of our market really helps us be at the forefront of trends and confident in our marketing and packaging decisions.”
