March 31, 2020

By Lynda Kiernan

Bolthouse Farms, one of the largest carrot growers and distributors in the U.S., announced it has agreed to acquire the carrot operations of Arizona-based Rousseau Farming Company for an undisclosed amount. 

In the business of growing carrots for more than 100 years, Bolthouse produces and sells premium juices, smoothies, cafe beverages, protein shakes, functional beverages, and refrigerated dressings under the Bolthouse Farms brand.

Acquired by Campbell Soup in 2012 for $1.55 billion, Campbell Soup reached an agreement in April 2019 to sell the business to an affiliate of Los Angeles-based, food-focused private equity firm Butterfly Equity for $510 million.

Headquartered in Bakersfield and Santa Monica, California, Bolthouse operates facilities in Hodgkins, Illinois, Wheatley, Ontario, and Prosser, Washington, and employs 2,200 employees.

This deal was undertaken as part of Bolthouse’s long-term growth plans, and brings to reality the company’s vision of Plants Powering People. It also plays into the company’s “four corners” regionally strategic growing approach, covering Washington, Georgia, Eastern Canada, California, and now Arizona. 

“This acquisition will help us scale to serve our customers better by bringing more fresh and healthy, locally grown carrots to them in the Southwest,” said Jeff Dunn, CEO, Bolthouse Farms.

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with the Rousseau family and are committed to partnering with companies that share our core values of sustainability, product quality and customer service. We look forward to continuing to grow our businesses and support the industry together.”

The deal also will foster greater innovation by Bolthouse in carrot production, which plans to further refine and advance existing automation, processing, and packaging capabilities, as well as introduce new carrot varieties and optimize the growth cycle and supply chains.

“My family has focused on providing fresh produce for the American table for more than 125 years, and I believe partnerships like this are what will help us continue to evolve and certainly see us through another 100 years,” said Will Rousseau, owner, Rousseau Farming Company.

Much like Bolthouse, which began carrot farming in 1915 in Grant, Michigan, and grew to be a leading Midwest supplier by 1950, the Rousseau family has been produce farming since 1892. Moving forward, the Rousseau operations will continue under its current name, and Rousseau Farming Company will retain ownership of all its other produce operations which include anise, beets, bok choy, broccoli, green cabbage, red cabbage, celery, green chard, cilantro, chilies, sweet corn, cauliflower, black, green, and red kale, and watermelon.

– Lynda Kiernan is Editor with GAI Media and daily contributor to the GAI News and Agtech Intel platforms. If you would like to submit a contribution for consideration, please contact Ms. Kiernan at lkiernan@globalaginvesting.com.