Kingsville, ON (June 12, 2023) – Mastronardi Produce, a fourth-generation family-owned business that pioneered commercial greenhouse growing in North America, continues to grow its reputation for flavor and quality, taking home top honors from international award programs this month. Competing in the Leamington Greenhouse Competitions and the Superior Taste Awards in Belgium, the company announced the addition of 31 awards to its ever-growing collection for SUNSET® and BerryWorld® brand products, including the top three Overall Best in Competition awards for Best Tomato, Best Pepper, and Best Berry, eight first-place awards, and sweeping the Cocktail Tomato, Strawberry and Specialty Berry categories.
“It is truly gratifying when the products we carefully cultivate and nurture are recognized on the global stage,” remarked Paul Mastronardi, President & CEO of Mastronardi Produce Ltd. “We take great pride in growing world-class produce that tastes unlike any fruit or vegetable you’ve ever had. Congratulations to our talented and passionate teams who work tirelessly to deliver the best flavor and quality.”
On Friday, Mastronardi Produce was heavily decorated with awards at the 16th Annual Leamington Greenhouse Competitions held in Leamington, Ontario – home to the largest concentration of greenhouses in North America and the company’s headquarters. This year, Mastronardi Produce took home 28 awards, a company record since the competitions began in 2007. Notably, the company won the Cocktail Tomato category in a clean sweep taking all three placings. Again in Specialty Berries, Mastronardi took home first place for SUNSET WOW® Berries moonberry™ blackberry, second place for WOW angelberry™ raspberry, and third place for BerryWorld XL Blueberries. WOW Berries went on to sweep the Strawberry category with pearberry™ placing first, lolliberry™ placing second, and dreamberry™ placing third. The pearberry strawberry not only won Best Overall Berry, it was also the top-scoring product overall out of 183 competition entries.
Here is a complete list of award-winning Mastronardi Produce entries from the 2023 Leamington Greenhouse Competitions:
SUNSET® WOW® Berries pearberry™ Strawberry – Best Overall Berry
SUNSET® Flaming Orange Snacking Tomato – Best Overall Tomato
SUNSET® Red Bell Pepper – Best Overall Pepper
SUNSET® Black Beauty Tomato – Cocktail Tomatoes – 1st Place
SUNSET® Flaming Orange Tomato – Bite Size Tomatoes – 1st Place
SUNSET® R’Orange Tomato – Specialty Tomatoes – 1st Place
SUNSET® WOW® Berries pearberry™ Strawberry– Strawberries – 1st Place
SUNSET® WOW® Berries moonberry™ Blackberry– Specialty Berries – 1st Place
SUNSET® Aloha® Pepper – Specialty Peppers – 1st Place
SUNSET® Orange Bell Pepper – Orange Bell Peppers – 1st Place
SUNSET® Red Bell Pepper – Red Bell Peppers – 1st Place
SUNSET® Black Pearl Tomato – Chef’s Choice Award
SUNSET® WOW® Berries dreamberry™ Strawberry – Chef’s Choice Award
SUNSET® WOW® Berries angelberry™ Raspberry – Chef’s Choice Award
SUNSET® One Sweet® Cucumber – Cocktail Cucumbers – 2nd Place
SUNSET® Wild Wonders® Mini Pepper – Mini Peppers – 2nd Place
SUNSET® WOW® angelberry™ Raspberry – Specialty Berries – 2nd Place
SUNSET® WOW® lolliberry™ Strawberry – Specialty Berries – 2nd Place
SUNSET® TOV – Tomatoes on the Vine – 2nd Place
SUNSET® Kumato® Tomato – Cocktail Tomatoes – 2nd Place
SUNSET® Valentino Tomato – Specialty Tomatoes – 2nd Place
SUNSET® Yellow Bell Pepper – Yellow Bell Peppers – 3rd Place
SUNSET® Wild Wonders® Long Sweet Pepper – Specialty Long Peppers – 3rd Place
SUNSET® Shazam!™ Shishito Peppers – Hot Peppers – 3rd Place
SUNSET® WOW® Berries angelberry™ Raspberry – Specialty Berries – 3rd Place
SUNSET® WOW® Berries dreamberry™ Strawberry – Strawberries –3rd Place
SUNSET® Campari® Tomato – Cocktail Tomatoes – 3rd Place
SUNSET® Mimi® Tomato – Bite Size Tomatoes – 3rd Place
Earlier this month, Mastronardi Produce also competed in the renowned International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Awards in Brussels, Belgium, earning a Superior Taste Award for each of its competition entries: Wild Wonders® long sweet peppers, Angel Sweet® grape tomatoes, and Sugar Bombs® grape tomatoes on the vine. The prestigious Superior Taste Awards are judged by over 200 top tier chefs and sommeliers who perform rigorous evaluations in appearance, olfaction, taste, and texture.
Mastronardi Produce has won over 180 awards at the Leamington Greenhouse Competitions since 2007 and was the first fresh produce company to earn a Superior Taste Award in 2010. This season’s awards coincide with National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month in June, making the timing of these victories even sweeter for the greenhouse produce pioneer.
About Mastronardi Produce Ltd.®
A pioneer and industry leader in the gourmet greenhouse industry, Mastronardi Produce grows and markets award-winning products under the SUNSET®, Backyard Farms®, BerryWorld®, and Queen of Greens® brands. Mastronardi Produce has been family-owned for over 70 years and prides itself on producing consistently flavorful tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, berries, and lettuce.
Company Contact:
Audra Macintyre, Communications Specialist
o: 519-326-3218
c: 519-791-9965
audra.macintyre@sunsetgrown.com
About Leamington Greenhouse Competitions
The Leamington Greenhouse Competitions first held a competition in 2007, originally called the Hottest Tomato Competition. Funds raised by registration fees from participants are donated to R.E.A.C.H. International, a registered charity supporting children’s health and education projects in Uganda. The annual competitions sponsor 70 children per year and have raised over $220,000 since 2007.
About International Taste Institute
Founded in 2005, the International Taste Institute has held blind taste evaluations with the renowned Superior Taste Award certification. Based in Brussels, the organization works with more than 200 of the world’s best chefs and sommeliers. In the same way that Le Guide Michelin contributes to the overall elevation of restaurant gastronomy around the world, the International Taste Institute strives to support and encourage consumer food and drink producers to develop and sell tastier products.
