Hottest Hothouse: SUNSET Flavor Rocks Leamington Fair

Kingsville, ON – SUNSET® swept the cocktail tomato category and took top honours in nine categories at the 12th Annual Leamington Greenhouse Competition, earning it the most accolades of the two-day competition.

In addition to receiving Best Overall Strawberry for the perfectly sweet dreamberry™, part of the new WOW™ berry line, SUNSET® new two-bite cucumber, Qukes™, was named best cocktail cucumber and Cloud Cukes was voted both People’s and Kids’ Choice Cucumber. The uniquely striped ALOHA™ pepper, which has been in high demand since its launch, won Kids’ Choice Pepper and best specialty bell pepper; SUNSET® orange bell pepper also received first place in its category. In addition, Campari® won best cocktail tomato and red Sweet Twister™ won best specialty long pepper.

“This competition is focused on flavor, which is the driving force behind everything we do,” says Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO, and the fourth-generation family member to lead Mastronardi Produce. “We’re proud to support and be recognized by our local community.”

Entries are judged through a blind taste test by a panel of experts, including representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, chefs, and produce managers. All entries are then voted on by the public.

The annual greenhouse competition is hosted by R.E.A.C.H. International, a locally funded charitable organization. Proceeds of the contest support the development of schools and clinics in Uganda.