Tanimura & Antle announces the acquisition of Boston-based Green City Growers

Employee-owned grower-shipper Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif., has announced the acquisition of Boston-based Green City Growers.

Terms of the deal were not made public.

Founded in 2008 and a certified benefit corporation (B-Corp), Green City Growers started their business by installing and maintaining raised garden beds at people’s homes, according to a news release. Green City Growers has expanded its customers to serve schools, non-profits, corporate clients and real estate companies, the release said, and provides customers with the infrastructure, tools, and educational tools required in order to grow their own fresh produce using the principles of organic, regenerative and pesticide free agriculture practices.

“Our investment in Green City Growers is our next level of engagement to continue our efforts to impact the lives of all, Scott Grabau, president & CEO of Tanimura & Antle, said in the release. “Our philosophy has always been a learning by doing approach.  By reaching children, charitable organizations, corporations, wellness and community outreach programs, we can have a strong impact on promoting a healthy lifestyle.  This partnership and acquisition will also provide our retail and foodservice partners their own opportunity to have an impact in the communities they serve by partnering with us on these programs.” 

The merger of the two companies is based on a common commitment and passion to provide communities, organizations and individuals with a hands-on educational experience to increase awareness, build engagement and provide education about where food comes from, the release said.

By providing a path to engagement with hands on experience, the release said Green City Growers will assist Tanimura & Antle with reaching individuals of all ages, promoting a long-term healthy lifestyle with consumers.  The combined goal of this partnership is to access and serve individuals and local communities not ordinarily provided with the opportunity to connect with their food while strengthening the food supply by providing a supplemental, healthy and independent food source, the release said.

“We see innovation in the food production and distribution chains as a societal and environmental necessity,"  Chris Grallert, president and equity partner of Green City Growers, said in the release.  "We are implementing creative and realistic solutions that help to meet the multiple challenges food systems currently face. We work towards this while at the same time providing local jobs, sourcing local materials, and supporting local economies. With a solid business foundation in our proven and robust soil growing technologies, we can now thoughtfully look into how we can expand our custom services in other areas of urban agriculture including vertical and other indoor technologies.  I could not be more excited about this new partnership.”   

Under the new ownership, the release said the company will continue doing business as Green City Growers with Chris Grallert as president of this new partnership.