Upholding A Tradition: A Q&A With Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, Canada and United States Operations, Red Sun Farms^™

Fads come and go.

From automation to unique growing methods, packaging innovations, and more, fresh produce players are known for staying on their toes, ready to pivot in any direction as evolving demands generate a need for adaptation. While advantageous and necessary, it’s worth admitting that always following the latest and greatest craze can be risky.

This is where the differentiation for Red Sun Farms™ begins. For the greenhouse grower, sustainability and operational excellence are much more than a fad; they are two values woven into its very essence. Red Sun Farms’ sustainability initiatives are not solely guided by dollar-driving shifts impacting consumers and the buy-side. Instead, they are the result of profound expertise that allows the company to easily distinguish between a business-savvy move and one that merely looks good on paper.

Standing at the helm of this powerful greenhouse network, Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, Canada and United States Operations, can tell you himself why sustainability is a necessity—and not a phase—for this producer.

Peggy Packer: Carlos, the last time you sat down with us at The Snack, you discussed your journey to leadership in produce and the formidable greenhouse operation that is Red Sun Farms. Since then, it has been obvious sustainability ranks high on your list of priorities. How does Red Sun Farms work to guarantee operational sustainability from end to end?

Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, Canada and United States Operations, Red Sun Farms^™: Red Sun Farms has built sustainability into the fabric of our operation, and sustainable business practices have become a key element in creating efficiencies. Our approach has been to look at sustainability holistically, so each division has an important contribution to providing the best technology and solutions to our consumers.

In the past six to seven years, we have challenged our packaging suppliers to push sustainable technology while maintaining excellence in food safety and quality. This resulted in the commercialization of new film technologies and increased recycled content in clamshells, fiber punnets, compostable PLUs, and labels with washable adhesives. Our high-tech greenhouses have also been uniquely designed to maximize the use of our resources and minimize food waste.

“Our approach has been to look at sustainability holistically, so each division has an important contribution to providing the best technology and solutions to our consumers.”

Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, Canada and United States Operations, Red Sun Farms™

PP: As each of these strategies sees impressive success, have you reached any key milestones across these programs?

CV: Red Sun Farms’ sustainability commitment focuses on our product innovations, investments in technology, and doing our part to improve sustainability from the farm to the finished product.

Our greenhouses collect 85 percent of the water consumed at our farms. This is treated for use in the greenhouse, and any unused water is re-treated and fed back to the plants. The result is a 90 percent reduction compared to conventional growing methods.

We are currently in season with our pepper crop that will supply peppers year-round. We’ve also acquired additional property for future expansion, increasing our production capacity for tomatoes.

PP: Each of these initiatives clearly has numerous benefits for both Red Sun Farms’ operations and Mother Nature. Turning our attention to the retail sector, what are some of the advantages these programs create for buy-side partners?

CV: Our packaging initiatives were built to support
our customers in their goals to reduce single-use plastics, increase PCR content levels, and provide compostable options, as well as remove black pigments from the polymer base and mitigate the use of Styrofoam materials.

Reinvention and adaptation are constant at Red
Sun Farms. We are fortunate to have solid supply partners and excellent retail allies to collaborate with to help drive efficiencies through our respective areas of expertise.

PP: In its relentless pursuit of innovation, I have no doubt Red Sun Farms will stay true to its longstanding vision and continue delighting retailers with high-quality products. As you look forward, how do you plan to bolster these already vigorous efforts?

CV: Our team will continue to explore technologies within the greenhouse sector to improve our environmental footprint and efficiencies. Additionally, we will continue to work with our supply partners to identify new packaging material innovations and support the development of these materials through validation trials and commercialization.

The team prides itself in owning every step of the process—seed selection, propagation, greenhouse operations, harvesting, packing, and distribution. Our master growers have selected varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers that will delight and exceed customers’ expectations. Red Sun Farms is committed to supporting our partners, and we’re looking forward to satisfying their needs with amazing flavor, quality, and year-round supply.

“Reinvention and adaptation are constant at Red Sun Farms™. We are fortunate to have solid supply partners and excellent retail allies to collaborate with to help drive efficiencies through our respective areas of expertise.”

When it comes to a supply-side powerhouse like Red Sun Farms, sustainability is an integral component of its brand identity. Embracing such a level of operational achievement is not simply adopting a craze. It’s upholding a tradition.