NewStar Fresh Foods LLC announced the official acquisition of the company by Anthony Vasquez, longtime employee and current president. With 20 years of experience in agriculture, including more than a decade with NewStar, Vasquez is seizing the opportunity to continue and expand his relationship with the Salinas, CA-based grower-shipper.Anthony Vasquez

“When I started working at NewStar 12 years ago, we were leaders in the bagged spinach category and offered a quality line of value-added, vegetable commodities. In recent years our focus shifted to the innovation of specialty and organic product lines," he said in a press release. "Now, as we enter a new era, I believe we can leverage our expertise, focus on our core competencies of service and quality, and effectively expand our offerings to meet today’s market trends.”

Since its foundation, NewStar Fresh Foods has worked to maintain high standards for food safety and product quality throughout the growing, processing and shipping processes. Now in its 20th year, the company’s experienced team comprises employees with a longstanding history at NewStar, including John Killeen, vice president of sales, Luis Barriga, vice president of agricultural operations, and Kenny Snyder, vice president of production, who have a combined 40 years with the company.

“It’s a very integrated process from seed to shipping. We rely on each other’s expertise and leadership,” Snyder said in the release.

That environment of collaboration, innovation and commitment to quality is what Vasquez intends to build on in his leadership role with NewStar. “I know that I still have a lot to learn — you always will in this industry,” Vasquez said in the release. “Produce is ever changing, yet its roots remain. Similarly, I believe this is the right team to take NewStar to the next level of growth and expansion.”

NewStar’s growth continues from the ground up with its increasing list of prime growing regions, including several new areas in Baja and expansion into Oxnard.