Mann Packing Co., Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce, is investing heavily in its snap pea program, as it further commits to being a leader in the space, according to a release.
The vegetable division of Fresh Del Monte has upgraded its program by acquiring two optical sorters dedicated solely to snap peas, totaling a $2.5 million investment, and is also exploring additional sourcing options in Guatemala and Peru that are within Fresh Del Monte’s global network, says the company.
The investment in the snap pea program comes shortly after the two companies announced that Mann Packing has officially completed the final stages of its integration as the vegetable division of Fresh Del Monte — a move that allows Mann Packing to leverage Fresh Del Monte’s resources and infrastructure.
“We’re investing heavily in our snap pea program by finding ways to expand, upgrade and improve efficiencies,” said Sevag Zaroukian, Mann Packing’s vice president of operations, in the release. “As the leader in snap peas, we see this as a pivotal moment to further cement our leadership position in the category.”
Mann Packing says the new optical sorters are installed and allow the company to increase available snap pea volumes to the market and improve efficiency, while further promoting its commitment to quality control.
The upgraded optical sorters provide enhanced quality assurance analytics for each batch/lot, while also serving a main function of cross-checking snap peas that go through the machine, rejecting any product that does not meet Mann’s quality standards, the company explained.
Mann Packing has a year-round growing season of stringless snap pea varieties. It currently grows its snap peas in California and Mexico and is exploring Guatemalan and Peruvian sourcing to further expand its program. The company says all of its snap peas are hand-picked and hand-selected at the field level.
A supplier of cut vegetables and leafy greens, Mann Packing has five facilities across California. Its newest state-of-the-art facility, located in Gonzales, opened in 2021, handling both fruits and vegetables, with full-fledged automation.
