Growers Express, a Salinas, California-based grower-owned supplier of fresh vegetables announced that it has acquired the long-standing Green Giant Fresh supplier, Curran Co., in Biddeford, Maine.

Growers Express’ strategic plan calls for the company to position itself as a “next generation healthful foods company.”  Already one of the largest fresh produce suppliers in the U.S., Growers Express has a total land base of 40,000 acres, producing year-round produce including iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, green onions, celery and a line of 15 specialty, conventional, and organic fresh herbs.

To achieve its growth goals, Growers Express has agreed to two major acquisitions within two months’ time – one on the U.S. West Coast and the second on the East Coast.

The most recent acquisition, Curran Co., has been a supplier to Green Giant Fresh since 2006 and has had a working relationship with Growers Express since 2009. The company’s product line includes sorted, snipped, and washed green beans, trimmed broccoli florettes, peeled, de-seeded, and cut butternut squash, and a line of salad blends. In the fall of 2015, the company expanded its operations into a 55,000 square foot facility in Biddeford, which allows for Curran to provide one-day delivery to 40% of the consumers in the U.S. and Canada while also reducing order fulfillment and lead times.

“The acquisition of this ideally located tried and true partner is strategically significant for us,” said Jamie Strachan, CEO Growers Express. “From their New England location, we will be able to reach 40 percent of the population of the United States and Canada, as well as reduce lead times which will better ensure product quality and shelf life upon delivery.”

The Curran deal follows closely on the heels of the June announcement that Growers Express agreed to acquire Misionero Vegetables located in Gonzales, California.

Founded in 1973, Misionero supplies both organic and traditional value added, fresh cut vegetables and minimally processed washed and trimmed vegetables from approximately 10,000 acres in the Salinas Valley and Yuma, Arizona, according to their website. The addition of Misioneo will not only bolster Growers Express’ product line, but it will also broaden the company’s resources through the addition to its staff, and the addition of more foodservice business to Growers Express’ portfolio, according to The Packer.

“Misionero is unique in that it provides a perfect complement to Growers in terms of employees, products, operations and customers,” Strachan said. “Misionero is a highly principled organization; and with our similar Values, we see a great fit in merging our companies to meet our Vision of Growing Next Generation Healthful Foods.”

Once the deal is closed by the end of this summer, Growers will take ownership of Misionero’s 75,000 square foot processing facilities and its 30,000 square foot cooling and distribution facility, with an expected result of tripling Growers’ value-added capacity.

“It’s a perfect fit in terms of products and customers,” according to Strachan. “It will help us extend more of our commodity lines into organic and value-added, minimally processed categories. Plus there’s almost no overlap in terms of top customers.”

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Lynda Kiernan