After conducting a comprehensive review and defining a clear path forward, Fresh Del Monte is implementing a three-pronged strategy focused on increasing operational efficiency, elevating its product offerings and divesting non-core assets, which includes the sale of Fresh Leaf Farms.The acquisition of Fresh Leaf Farms by First Leaf Farms further enhances the Costa and Nunes families’ leadership in the leafy greens sector, leveraging their combined expertise and long-standing history. First Leaf Farms will utilize Mann Packing’s robust logistics network through the Yuma season to ensure uninterrupted service and operational efficiency, and the Costa family’s operations will continue to grow leafy greens for Mann Packing. Looking ahead, the companies intend to maintain a collaborative partnership, exploring further opportunities for growth.
With over 65 years of farming experience in the Salinas Valley, the Costa family is renowned for its innovation and premium leafy greens, which have long been a key supply source for Mann Packing. Now in its fourth generation, the Nunes family, known for its Foxy and Foxy Organic brands, has a long-standing legacy in the Salinas Valley, offering a diverse range of conventional and organic fresh vegetables.
The Costa family will manage production and operations for First Leaf Farms, while The Nunes Co. Inc. will oversee all sales and marketing.
“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,” said Mike Costa, partner in the Costa family’s operations. “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.”
“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. This acquisition allows us to build on that shared history, combining our strengths to drive continued growth and innovation in the leafy greens sector,” said Tom Nunes V, president of The Nunes Co.
