Liberty Fruit celebrates 40 years
Liberty Fruit celebrates 40 years
KANSAS CITY, KS -- Liberty Fruit Co. Inc., here, celebrated its 40th year in business Saturday, June 18, with a wonderful party at its facility.
The name "Liberty" was originated by Issie and Lee Caviar, who had a weekend fruit stand on Highway 50 in the 1950s and '60s. In 1965, Liberty Fruit Co. was founded and opened at the City Market in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Caviar and his wife, Mary, had one stall and sold mostly to the public and later to some small stores. They used a yellow Dodge pickup as their first truck.
Their son, Arnold Caviar, worked weekends in the late 1960s while holding a teaching job at Southwest High School. In 1971, Liberty Fruit Co. expanded to four stalls on the market, and Arnold joined his parents in a full-time role. They continued to sell to more stores and developed some wholesale business. In 1975, the Caviar Family purchased the building on 2nd Street and Grand in Kansas City, MO, while maintaining the four stalls on the market. Weekends at that point grew very busy, and the weekday business was also growing. In 1982, Arnold and his wife, Carol, purchased the company and started the second generation of Liberty Fruit Co. Arnold took on two grocery chains: Bob's IGA and two large Food for Less stores in Olathe, KS. The company had 18 employees.
Spending many long hours and working hard to grow the business, the following 10 years saw Liberty Fruit gain many more customers, including the first restaurant on its client sheet, New Peking.
In 1991, Arnold and Carol's son, Allen Caviar, joined his parents in the business and was full of energy and ambition. In 1994, after outgrowing the Grand Avenue location, Arnold and Carol purchased the building, which the firm now occupies, which was formerly a Safeway facility. At that time, Liberty Fruit had 50 employees.
Business continued to grow at a very rapid pace, and in 1996, the emphasis was turned to becoming a major player in the restaurant business while maintaining a large retail and wholesale base.
Cory Caviar joined the company in 1996 as its management and information system director. In the later 1990s, the firm's growth was gradual and steady. According to the company, customer service, quality and value were and have always been the keys to success for Liberty Fruit.
Growth continued through the millennium as Allison Caviar joined the team in 2002. Scott Danner also joined Liberty Fruit in 2003 as executive vice president. Today Liberty Fruit delivers to a five-state region and has become a major force in the Midwest. The firm employs about 200 people and has its own processing facility, "Carol Cuts, named for Arnold's wife. It also has its own private label, "Mary's Pride, named for Arnold's mother.
All the staff at Liberty Fruit are excited and ready for the next 40 years.
(Photos from the event appear in the June 27 issue of The Produce News.)
The name "Liberty" was originated by Issie and Lee Caviar, who had a weekend fruit stand on Highway 50 in the 1950s and '60s. In 1965, Liberty Fruit Co. was founded and opened at the City Market in Kansas City, MO. Mr. Caviar and his wife, Mary, had one stall and sold mostly to the public and later to some small stores. They used a yellow Dodge pickup as their first truck.
Their son, Arnold Caviar, worked weekends in the late 1960s while holding a teaching job at Southwest High School. In 1971, Liberty Fruit Co. expanded to four stalls on the market, and Arnold joined his parents in a full-time role. They continued to sell to more stores and developed some wholesale business. In 1975, the Caviar Family purchased the building on 2nd Street and Grand in Kansas City, MO, while maintaining the four stalls on the market. Weekends at that point grew very busy, and the weekday business was also growing. In 1982, Arnold and his wife, Carol, purchased the company and started the second generation of Liberty Fruit Co. Arnold took on two grocery chains: Bob's IGA and two large Food for Less stores in Olathe, KS. The company had 18 employees.
Spending many long hours and working hard to grow the business, the following 10 years saw Liberty Fruit gain many more customers, including the first restaurant on its client sheet, New Peking.
In 1991, Arnold and Carol's son, Allen Caviar, joined his parents in the business and was full of energy and ambition. In 1994, after outgrowing the Grand Avenue location, Arnold and Carol purchased the building, which the firm now occupies, which was formerly a Safeway facility. At that time, Liberty Fruit had 50 employees.
Business continued to grow at a very rapid pace, and in 1996, the emphasis was turned to becoming a major player in the restaurant business while maintaining a large retail and wholesale base.
Cory Caviar joined the company in 1996 as its management and information system director. In the later 1990s, the firm's growth was gradual and steady. According to the company, customer service, quality and value were and have always been the keys to success for Liberty Fruit.
Growth continued through the millennium as Allison Caviar joined the team in 2002. Scott Danner also joined Liberty Fruit in 2003 as executive vice president. Today Liberty Fruit delivers to a five-state region and has become a major force in the Midwest. The firm employs about 200 people and has its own processing facility, "Carol Cuts, named for Arnold's wife. It also has its own private label, "Mary's Pride, named for Arnold's mother.
All the staff at Liberty Fruit are excited and ready for the next 40 years.
(Photos from the event appear in the June 27 issue of The Produce News.)
