SANTA PAULA, CA - For 17 years, Calavo Growers and Agrícola Belher have been skillfully leveraging their partnership. Most recently, the two companies announced they will co-brand high-quality tomatoes, such as vine-ripened rounds, Romas, and mature greens.

“Tomatoes are a strong complementary product to Calavo’s avocado business both in the produce department, where they are most often merchandised side by side, and in forever growing foodservice menu offerings,” commented Mike Browne, Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations, Calavo Growers. “Nutritionally, the duo of products create what is often referred to as ‘food synergy,’ a term that identifies combining specific foods together to maximize their nutritional and health benefits.”

As a press release explained, this collaboration between the two companies goes back to 2007 when Calavo and Agrícola Belher first joined forces to add tomatoes to the Calavo product lineup on a seasonal basis. As part of a joint partnership venture in 2015, the two companies developed a state-of-the-art campus of greenhouses in Jalisco, Agrícola Don Memo, for year-round production.

“We are committed to quality, the latest technology, and highest food safety standards,” added Rosario Beltrán, Founder, Agrícola Belher. “Calavo shares that commitment, allowing us to offer the finest tomatoes to our customers to North America.”

The companies noted that the alliance has been successful for both Calavo and Agrícola Belher, since co-branding allows a trusted brand association synonymous with quality and leadership in the tomato category.

Calavo also restructured its Tomato Sales team with this move.

Kurt Kistler, now Vice President of Tomato Sales, joined the company in November of last year. He brings over 25 years of fresh produce expertise to the role, where he will manage the team of sales professionals underneath him.

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