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J&J and Thomas Produce Co. form strategic alliance

J&J Family of Farms, based in Loxahatchee, FL, and Thomas Produce Co., based in Boca Raton, FL, announced that they have entered into a strategic relationship that will combine their respective farm production to make available high-quality produce from approximately 14,000 acres of farmed land in the United States and Mexico.  SteveStephen Thomas

As part of the transaction, Thomas Produce will become a shareholder in J&J Holdings, resulting in a complete alignment and partnership in all aspects of J&J’s business. In addition, Stephen Thomas will join J&J Holdings’ board of directors, and Thomas, along with Tommy LaSalle, general manager of Thomas Produce, will join J&J’s sales and marketing advisory committee.

“This transaction marks a significant milestone for J&J, not only adding scale to our business, but also providing opportunities for us to better serve our customers and forge our path as a leader in the produce industry,” Lynn Rundle, chairman and chief executive officer of J&J, said in a press release.LynnLynn Rundle

“We are excited to become a shareholder in J&J Holdings and partner in the business with the owners of J&J,” Stephen Thomas, chief financial officer of Thomas Produce, added in the press release.

Norman Thomas, CEO of Thomas Produce, added, “With over three generations strong, we feel that the Thomas family farming legacy and best practices established by our father John Thomas, is best continued and strengthened for the future through this new relationship with J&J.”

“Because of the critical importance of this initiative, we have asked Chris Coffman to step into the newly created role of senior vice president of marketing and strategy,” Rundle added. “Chris has been the driving force in creating this relationship. His deep knowledge of the industry and our marketplace, combined with his vision and passion for finding ways to better serve our customers and ultimately our consumers, make him the ideal leader for this and other similar initiatives into the future.”

“We are very pleased to have Thomas Produce as part of the J&J Family of Farms,” Coffman said. “The Thomas family’s exemplary reputation in the industry brings great value to J&J. Through this partnership we expect to be better able to serve our customers, with opportunities for additional value added programs, while we accelerate our shared commitment to excel in food safety, social responsibility and best farming practices. ”

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