Calavo's new FreshRealm LLC will look to connect buyers and sellers
Calavo's new FreshRealm LLC will look to connect buyers and sellers
Calavo Growers Inc. announced that it has created FreshRealm LLC, a cloud-based technology company that is building a platform that will allow participants, such as traditional retailers, large and small enterprises, communities and food banks, to plug into an ecosystem resembling a national fresh food cooperative.
FreshRealm will not sell directly to consumers but instead will serve as the engine that connects participants to a network of regional fresh food producers. Calavo will be the majority shareholder with a few key strategic minority partners. Terms were not further disclosed.
FreshRealm is being led by Michael R. Lippold, Calavo's director of strategic development.
"Fresh, healthy food should be more accessible in every corner of our country," Mr. Lippold said in a press release. "There are no 'Internet deserts' in the United States. It is time for an end to fresh food deserts, too. We're excited to connect best-in-class fresh food and logic to enable that shift."
"FreshRealm is a natural extension of Calavo's long-term participation in food that is fresh and good for you," Lee Cole, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Calavo, based in Santa Paula, CA, added in the press release.
The strategic relationship with Calavo will allow FreshRealm to immediately operate as an institutionally backed company both financially and operationally.
By logically connecting the dots in the fresh food industry, FreshRealm is able to create business value while also greatly reducing food waste. Built into its ecosystem is a plan to gift surplus food to the people and places that need it most.
"By acting in their own best interests, participants can help others as they help themselves," Mr. Lippold said in the press release. "We feel like we have a business model that is prosperous for us, for other businesses, and helps us all collectively."
"There is plenty of fresh food, good people and good companies in this country," Mr. Cole added in the press release. "It is time to connect and logically incentivize the pieces to leverage one another, and evolve the fresh food industry for everyone."