US (WA): Fruit companies merge packing operations
Legacy Fruit Packers, which launched Jan. 1, merges the warehouse and packing operations of Valley Fruit in Wapato and Larson Fruit Co. in Selah.
Combining the operations was the best way to keep costs down and to respond to ongoing challenges of finding talent, the companies said in a news release Wednesday.
“This strategic combination puts both Valley and Larson in a highly competitive position for many years to come,” said Keith Larson, co-owner of Larson Fruit Co.
The company’s first major project will be the installation of a high-speed packing line in Wapato that is expected to be ready Sept. 1, in time for the 2015 apple harvest.
“We strongly believe that to justify an investment in a state-of-the-art packing line, you need to be able to pack at least 200,000 bins of fruit from day one,” said Peter Verbrugge, president and co-owner of Valley Fruit.
The companies’ orchard operations will remain independently owned and operated, according to the news release.
Larson, Valley Fruit and Olympic Fruit of Moxee also own Sage Fruit Co., a grower-shipper.
Source: yakimaherald.com
