With the aim of providing the Midwest with a steady supply of fresh greenhouse-grown tomatoes, Pure Flavor has acquired MightyVine, a controlled environment agriculture tomato grower in Rochelle, Ill.
“We continue to see significant growth and demand for the Pure Flavor brand across North America, which has prompted us to strategically invest in specific regions,” Jamie Moracci, Pure Flavor president and partner, said in a news release. “The opportunity to add MightyVine to our family of growers will allow us to further extend our reach into the Midwest and beyond.”
Jamie Moracci (Photo courtesy Pure Flavor)
Located just west of Chicago, MightyVine's 30-acre facility with lit production will enable the Leamington, Ontario-based Pure Flavor to provide greenhouse-grown tomatoes year-round to this important region in the U.S., the company says.
“Expanding our capacity with lit crop production enables us to service the Midwest with U.S.A.-grown tomatoes,” said Moracci, who sees the acquisition as a complement to the company's Southeast tomato program from its facility in Peach County, Ga.
Pure Flavor opened its Georgia greenhouse in late 2018 and currently grows tomatoes-on-the-vine that are distributed to retail and foodservice partners in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee and Alabama, the release said.
“The acquisition of MightyVine further demonstrates our company leadership's ability to recognize and analyze strategic acquisition opportunities [that continue] to breathe enthusiasm into greater expansion possibilities,” Jeff Moracci, Pure Flavor chief financial officer and partner, said in the release.
Jeff Moracci (Photo courtesy Pure Flavor)
Pure Flavor has actively expanded its portfolio of greenhouses and distribution centers in the last nine months. It acquired DeTemporada Farms in late December 2022 followed by Cervini Farms C5 in February 2023. Pure Flavor further expanded its network in July by acquiring another distribution center in McAllen, Texas.
The company says expansion is currently underway at DeTemporada's Phase 2 of 13 acres that will be completed later this year, as well as development plans for Phases 6 and 7, as part of Pure Flavor's master 350-acre campus plan in Leamington.
The company's strategic investments are focused on solidifying its future as an industry leader, the release said.
Matt Mastronardi (Photo courtesy Pure Flavor)
“As we welcome MightyVine to the Pure Flavor family, we look forward to growing existing business relationships that have flourished over the past several years in the Midwest under the MightyVine brand. We will continue to bring flavorful greenhouse-grown tomatoes and much more to those loyal business partners in the years to come,” Matt Mastronardi, Pure Flavor executive vice president and partner, said in the release.
With expansion comes a need for greater talent resources to support the growth, the release said. Pure Flavor says it continues to lead extensive recruitment drives at all its facilities.
“Increasing our owned acreage helps facilitate our growth alongside our grower partners and supports our need of scaling up our operations to drive efficiencies,” said Jamie Moracci, president. “We are excited to add MightyVine to our Pure Flavor family.”
The company says future expansion plans beyond the Cervini Farms C5, DeTemporada Farms and the MightyVine acquisitions are ongoing as it seeks to develop more region-specific facilities and explore new product opportunities.
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Related: Pure Flavor continues expansion, acquires Cervini Farms C5