SAN ANTONIO, TX - Remember those wooden building blocks we played with as kids? A deep sense of accomplishment came with each creation, and I imagin NatureSweet® is feeling much the same as it adds a new joint venture to its repertoire. Partnering with tech provider Ganfer, the company is expanding its operations with the addition of over 200 acres, allowing NatureSweet to greatly strengthen its growing capacity.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ganfer to create this joint venture and further accelerate our growth. We have worked together for four years, and they have been instrumental in providing the quality that customers and consumers have always expected from NatureSweet small tomatoes, on top of a much broader spectrum of greenhouse-grown vegetables,” said Rodolfo Spielmann, President and Chief Executive Officer of NatureSweet. “This is not only about getting to over 1,400 acres of vertical integration today, but also accelerating newly added capacity moving forward, as we expect to add at least another 150 acres by the end of 2022 and continue building from there.”

According to a press release, the acceleration of NatureSweet’s recent growth is driven by increased market share in the small tomato category. While implementing marketing investments, innovations, and partnerships with premier retailers in North America, the company has also been extending its brand into a vast array of greenhouse-grown vegetables.

“We invested the last three years learning and perfecting our offering beyond small tomatoes. We wanted to be 100 percent confident that we have a superior product for our retail partners and consumers, and now we have a proposition that adds up to a 20 percent sales increase versus what you can see from the commodity products in the market today,” added Spielmann. “Ganfer has been a key partner in our growth; the quality you see from their high-technology greenhouses and team is unparalleled.”

Ganfer takes a human approach to innovation and agricultural technology. With NatureSweet’s goal of being a one-stop greenhouse shop in North America by 2023, Ganfer will also have the opportunity to advance its capabilities in the ag industry.

“We are very excited to start this joint venture with NatureSweet. This is beyond just growing superior products, but it’s also about a vision to leverage higher technology to accelerate and maximize our positive impact in our communities and the planet,” said German Gándara, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ganfer.

The joint venture also supports NatureSweet’s vertical integration. Additionally, the company aims to transform the lives of agricultural workers in North America, boasting protected acreage globally that is certified by both Fair Trade and the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). These efforts directly improve the lives of approximately 10,000 workers, on top of the half a million individuals in the last decade who have benefitted from the company’s community work.

There is seemingly no ceiling above the greenhouse sector, so I expect that NatureSweet will continue stacking its building blocks higher and higher.

NatureSweet®