A.V. Thomas Produce merges with Yagi Bros. Produce
A.V. Thomas Produce Inc. entered into a definitive merger agreement with Yagi Bros. Produce, one of the original sweet potato growers, packers and shippers in California, which started in 1947.
A.V. Thomas Produce Inc. is a leading supplier of fresh conventional and certified organic sweet potatoes in North and Central America. Livingston, CA, is one of the special places in the country with the warm climate and light, sandy soil necessary to grow high-quality sweet potatoes, and Tomas began growing them here in 1960. Today more than 90 percent of California’s sweet potato crop is grown right in this area. Tomas founded A.V. Thomas Produce with 10 acres in production and one small packingshed in downtown Livingston.
Yagi Bros. Produce Inc. grows, packs and ships fresh organic and conventional sweet potatoes from Livingston. The company first began in 1947 as a family-run farm that was started by three brothers who, like so many other immigrants, wanted to chase the American Dream and be able to provide for their family. It is now proud to offer a variety of packaging options for both wholesale and retail-ready opportunities.
This merger with Yagi Bros. further strengthens its position as a grower-packer-shipper in California. The addition of Yagi Bros. Produce’s experienced staff, acreage and proprietary varieties, along with existing production and operations capabilities, farming acreage and storage capacity will provide new and existing clients with exceptional product availability throughout the year. This partnership is also expected to result in greater efficiencies and significantly increase market share throughout North America.
Yagi Bros. Produce will move its existing sales, packing and shipping team to A.V.'s headquarters in Atwater, CA.
A.V. Thomas will continue to operate as A.V. Thomas Produce Inc., while Yagi Bros. Produce will be discontinued on Monday, Feb. 6. Yagi Brothers Produce’s sweet potatoes, current brands and packaging options will continue to be available thru A.V. Thomas Produce.
