Handling & Distributing
CORRECTED: Edinburg, Texas-based Frontera Produce Ltd. has exited the onion and watermelon businesses and given way to Crescent Fruit & Vegetable LLC, a stand-alone company that Frontera owners Jim and Will Steele launched Jan. 1.
The Steeles brought in David DeBerry, former owner of Edinburg-based David K Deberry Inc., as onion category director.
The company operates out of a 120,000-square-foot facility in Edinburg that Frontera purchased in 2010 from Borders Melon Co. Inc., which moved, according to DeBerry.
That was the genesis of the new company, he said.
“When Frontera purchased the physical plant in 2010 and entered into a farming partnership with Borders, it was a decision that was made as the best way to keep decentralized operations,” he said. “The Steeles emphasized they were purchasing this entity because it was a good one and it worked, and they liked the way it worked. They just wanted to acquire the business and have the business continue to run the way it was and operate as a stand-alone.”
DeBerry said he was ready to take on a new challenge after having run his own produce business for many years.
“I just turned 50 and had been doing this since I was 15 and was ready to step into a different role with a much, much larger, much more sophisticated staff than what I had before,” he said. “Before, I spent about 95% of my time on production and sales. I probably spend now no more than 50% of my time on production and sales and the rest on managerial responsibilities.”
The new company has 14 employees in sales and accounting — many from Frontera — and more than 100 in the warehouse before the peak season hits. The warehouse will have nearly 400 workers during the onion and melon seasons, DeBerry said.
Chris Eddy, sales and operations manager at Frontera, moved to Crescent to handle similar responsibilities, DeBerry said.
“That was a huge acquisition for this company,” DeBerry said of Eddy. “He brings just a ridiculous amount of skill and experience. Everybody likes him, from the largest corporate retailer, foodservice customers to truck and forklift drivers.”
Crescent handles 2,200 acres of onions in Tampico, Mexico and about 1,900 in Texas, DeBerry said.
“We’re also exploring opportunities in New Mexico and Colorado right now,” he said.
It’s a new company, but it’s staffed with experts, DeBerry said.
Employees have experience at a number of shippers in the region, including Frontera, Duda and David K. DeBerry Inc., DeBerry said.
“They’re all people with a lot of time invested in the industry,” he said.
Many of the personnel brought their own sales contacts, too, DeBerry said.
“We pulled everything together and there was very little crossover,” he said.
“They can come in and offer directives at their whim, but for the most part, we’re a stand-alone company and we’ll operate independently from anything else,” DeBerry said.
The company’s label is Moonlit Farms.
Two websites, www.moonlitfarms.com and www.crescentfruit.com, were under construction in early February.
Note on correction: The original headline incorrectly listed the products handled by Crescent Produce.
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Comments (5)
Leave a commentbill
Report AbuseWell put.
Steve
Report AbuseWOW!!! Sounds like Attorney Bill Marler was right on a comment he previously made about taking Frontera Produce down.
If you happen to be part of the Texas deal, its pretty much public knowledge that a huge portion of Frontera Produce's operation/business/growers HAS already been shifted to Crescent Fruit & Vegetable LLC for the sole purpose of PROTECTING its business from the Bill Marler's of the world.
After onion's and watermelons will of course come the rest of the produce list handled by Frontera Produce.
Basically, the Steeles' are preparing for the worst to come from the whole Jensen Farms ordeal. "RUN FORREST RUN"
Also, funny how they keep emphasizing the word "STAND-ALONE COMPANY" throughout this article.
"Edinburg, Texas-based Frontera Produce Ltd. has exited the onion and watermelon businesses and given way to Crescent Fruit & Vegetable LLC, [a stand-alone company] that Frontera owners Jim and Will Steele launched Jan. 1."
“They can come in and offer directives at their whim, but for the most part, we’re [a stand-alone company] and we’ll operate independently from anything else,” DeBerry said.
stan
Report AbuseIt seems you have taken on a lot of responsibilities at this new co. But it sounds like you are putting a lot of emphasis on your onion program and don't even mention your watermelon program. Can we assume that watermelons are not going to be a priority at Crescent. Just wondering
keith
Report AbuseI agree with Stan. I have been dealing with Borders Melon and Claudie Berry for almost 20 years and there was no mention of watermelon program or Claudie Berry for that matter. Should i be looking for a different source? Claudie assured me I am taking care of but beginning to wonder if he even has authority to make that call.
Babs
Report AbuseSteve: Interesting, I heard the same thing about Crescent Fruit & Vegetable, LLC. and it seems as though the name came from either Crescent Park and or Crescent Springs, KY. Coincidentally, that is where the old chiquita sales (Don & Kristie Johnston, Tony Fey, and Matt Tanner) group is currently located.