Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.’s vegetable division, Mann Packing, has sold its Fresh Leaf Farms brand to First Leaf Farms, a new partnership between leaders in the Salinas Valley produce industry, the Costa and Nunes families.
The Nunes family is known for its Foxy and Foxy Organic brands and grows conventional and organic fresh vegetables. The Costa family has long been a supplier for Mann Packing, with more than 65 years of farming experience.
The companies said this new venture aligns with a shared commitment to drive innovation, enhance customer offerings and strengthen leadership in the fresh produce sector.
The Costa family will maintain the production and operations for First Leaf Farms, and the Nunes family will oversee the sales and marketing, according to a news release.
“For more than a generation, the Nunes and Costa families have worked side by side — the Costa family, known for its innovative varieties, superior land base, and integrity, and the Nunes family, with similar values and expertise in marketing and sales,” said Tom Nunes V, president of The Nunes Co. “This acquisition allows us to build on that shared history, combining our strengths to drive continued growth and innovation in the leafy greens sector.”
Mann Packing said the sale of Fresh Leaf Farms is a step in Fresh Del Monte’s strategic direction for its vegetable division.
Fresh Del Monte Produce said that, following a comprehensive review, it implemented a three-pronged strategy to increase operational efficiency, enhance its product offerings and divest non-core assets, including Fresh Leaf Farms. Mann Packing will continue its core vegetable line and as broccolini, stringless sugar snap peas and Better Leaf lettuce clam line, while exploring new innovative product offerings, according to the release.
Fresh Del Monte Produce said concentrating on growth drivers and streamlining supply chains will help the business boost long-term profitability, strengthen business and customer relationships and deliver innovative solutions to meet customers’ needs.
“Our strategy not only sharpens our focus on future growth and operational excellence but also ensures that Fresh Leaf Farms continues to thrive under the leadership of the Costa and Nunes families,” Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s chairman and CEO, said in the news release. “As Fresh Del Monte’s vegetable division and with innovation as its driving force, Mann Packing remains committed to delivering high-quality, fresh products that meet the evolving needs of our customers and consumers.”
Adding Fresh Leaf Farms will enhance the leadership of the Costa and Nunes families in the leafy greens sector, which will leverage expertise and long-standing history, the companies said, adding that they plan to utilize Mann Packing’s logistics network in Yuma, Ariz., to provide uninterrupted service for First Leaf Farms. The Costa family will continue to grow leafy greens for Mann Packing as the companies plan to maintain a collaborative partnership in the future.
“With our long history in the Salinas Valley and 40-plus-year relationship with the Nunes family, known for their marketing expertise and reputation for integrity and quality, this acquisition is a natural fit,” Mike Costa, partner in the Costa family’s operations, said in the release. “We have always valued our relationship with Mann Packing and Del Monte and thank them for this opportunity. We look forward to strengthening this relationship by leveraging both current and future opportunities to drive continued success.”
