Honey Bear Tree Fruit brings several well-known labels under one marketing effort
Honey Bear Tree Fruit brings several well-known labels under one marketing effort
A mid-October merger of Nuchief Sales in Wenatchee, WA, and Elgin, MN- based Wescott Agri Products is anticipated to bring more than 2.5 million cases of tree fruit, primarily apples and pears, under one marketing umbrella in 2007.
According to Nuchief President Randy Steensma, the new company, Honey Bear Tree Fruit Co., is based in Wenatchee with offices also in Elgin, and Don Roper has taken the position vice president of sales and marketing. Mr. Steensma added that Honey Bear integrates marketing, growing and packing services for its domestic retail and export customers.
The veteran Washington fruit industry member went on to say during the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit in San Diego that the fruit will be grown under the "Crane & Crane," "Big Check," "Mr. Roberts," "Mississippi Valley Fruit Co." and "Honey Bear" labels.
Nuchief was founded in 1948, and during nearly six decades it has emerged as one of Washington's leading grower-marketers of tree fruit.
Wescott Agri Products was established by Fred Wescott in 1985 and is one of the larger Honeycrisp apple growers in Washington. Wescott Agri is also a major packer, marketer and distributor of apples grown in the Upper Midwest, and the company is known for its tree fruit sourcing and distribution services that include procurement, new product and package development, merchandising and warehousing.
"Our growth has come through providing retail customers with market- leading products and unparalleled client service," said Mr. Wescott. "We expect to broaden our procurement and development of key tree fruit varietals and enhance our retail programs through the new company."
Mr. Steensma concurred, saying, "This will enable us to get our premium products further into the retail grocery apple supply chain supported by strong merchandising programs. We are perfectly positioned to provide the retail marketplace with a consistent, year-round premium tree fruit program."
According to Nuchief President Randy Steensma, the new company, Honey Bear Tree Fruit Co., is based in Wenatchee with offices also in Elgin, and Don Roper has taken the position vice president of sales and marketing. Mr. Steensma added that Honey Bear integrates marketing, growing and packing services for its domestic retail and export customers.
The veteran Washington fruit industry member went on to say during the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit in San Diego that the fruit will be grown under the "Crane & Crane," "Big Check," "Mr. Roberts," "Mississippi Valley Fruit Co." and "Honey Bear" labels.
Nuchief was founded in 1948, and during nearly six decades it has emerged as one of Washington's leading grower-marketers of tree fruit.
Wescott Agri Products was established by Fred Wescott in 1985 and is one of the larger Honeycrisp apple growers in Washington. Wescott Agri is also a major packer, marketer and distributor of apples grown in the Upper Midwest, and the company is known for its tree fruit sourcing and distribution services that include procurement, new product and package development, merchandising and warehousing.
"Our growth has come through providing retail customers with market- leading products and unparalleled client service," said Mr. Wescott. "We expect to broaden our procurement and development of key tree fruit varietals and enhance our retail programs through the new company."
Mr. Steensma concurred, saying, "This will enable us to get our premium products further into the retail grocery apple supply chain supported by strong merchandising programs. We are perfectly positioned to provide the retail marketplace with a consistent, year-round premium tree fruit program."
