There’s nothing sweeter than strawberry season. That’s why strawberries are one of the most popular fruits in Canada, with the average Canadian consuming around three kilograms annually.
Cold Canadian winters make it nearly impossible to grow strawberries locally out of season, but Walmart Canada has found a way to deliver Ontario-grown strawberries year-round by working with Mastronardi Produce, a local Canadian supplier.
“We are excited to be launching Your Fresh Market greenhouse-grown strawberries exclusively at Walmart Canada,” said Kimberly Roberts, Senior Director, Floral and Produce, Walmart Canada. “This new strawberry greenhouse will enable us to offer a Canadian-grown strawberry all year long.”
Mastronardi Produce is a fresh fruit and vegetable company with approximately 3,000 employees. They operate greenhouses in Kingsville, Ontario, including one specifically built for strawberries.
“We care about the environment, and the good thing about growing in a greenhouse is we use about one-twentieth of the water and one-tenth of the land of field farming,” said Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO of Mastronardi Produce.
Family-owned for over 70 years, Mastronardi prides itself on a history of innovation that allows it to produce the most flavourful tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and berries in a sustainable way.
“Working with local suppliers, our customers have told us that local is really, really important to them,” said Sam Wankowski, Chief Merchandising Officer, Walmart Canada. “It means we can get that product quicker to the customer, which is going to mean less trucks on the road and, ultimately, a better product for customers.”
For more information:
Walmart Canada
www.walmartcanada.ca
Mastronardi Produce
www.sunsetgrown.com