REEDLEY & BAKERSFIELD, CA - To play on a phrase from Shakespeare, journeys end in partners meeting. But in doing so, a new one also begins. This is the mindset that has brought together Creekside Organics and Fruit World. Joining as one in a 50-50 merge, Brenda Haught and Bianca Kaprielian sit across from me, emanating enthusiasm for the new journey ahead.

“We will be a stronger company together,” Bianca, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Fruit World, says about the catalyst for the move. “Merging with Creekside is a way to not only sustain our own business approach, but also to broaden resources so our amazing staff, growers, and customers will have a lot more growth opportunities.”

The newly merged company will operate as Creekside Organics, with Fruit World being a label that the leaders are excited to continue to grow and expand.

To those seeing this change less as breaking news and more like the surprise twist you should have seen coming: You are not alone. Bianca and Brenda were each there to witness the other beginning their respective companies and have worked together over the years, opening them up to what a merger could look like.

“If I could think of anyone in this industry to partner with, my choice would be Bianca. I remember when she talked about starting Fruit World, knowing she would do well. I think this next step will be a great one for our teams and for what both companies represent. Family farms are important to our respective companies, our communities, to our food supply, and to the environment. Creekside and Fruit World are and work with multi-generational and first-generation farmers that we want to lift up, bolster, and give access to our network of retail and wholesale customers, whom we’ve built relationships with over decades of working in this industry,” Brenda, President and Owner of Creekside Organics, reflects.

In terms of ownership, both emphasize this is a true, come-together merger. Together the two CEOs will lead the integration of the two companies, forging a new way forward together, leaning on each other’s strengths and complementary styles. Well-matched in size and strategy, the entire ownership group is excited for what is in store. This includes, in addition to Bianca and Brenda:

• Craig Kaprielian, Current Owner, Fruit World
• Angelica Kaprielian, Current Owner, Fruit World
• Noah Barnes, Current Owner, Creekside Organics and Capay Organic
• Thaddeus Barsotti, Current Owner, Creekside Organics and Capay Organic
• Freeman Barsotti, Current Owner, Creekside Organics and Capay Organic

Internally, both teams will remain intact with the same ethos that guided both companies to this natural next step, with Bianca reminding me one of her mottos is that family farms are “the special sauce to our success and our industry.”

“Our ownership group is made up of farmers and a farming history, and we are keeping that in the foreground,” Brenda agrees. “We don’t anticipate any changes to our number of staff, but look forward to possibilities and resources that let everyone’s strengths shine and all the ‘hat-wearing’ to spread out more evenly. Our teams work very hard and have a deep commitment to our growers and customers. This will offer them more support and give them a bigger team to lean on.”

Externally, their high level of service will remain the same—if not better—with both leaders continuing to be accessible and the company able to offer more resources to respond to customer needs.

“We see that a lot of customers want more of a 'one-stop shop' in terms of loading location, which we are excited to offer as part of this merger. Additionally, we are excited to expand on some of our existing initiatives, like our sustainable packaging efforts,” Bianca says. “Our commitment to our core values isn’t changing—it’s deepening. Family farms are our special sauce, and with this merger, we’re not just combining two family operations, we’re also growing our capacity to support even more farms that share our vision and values. It’s an exciting step forward for all of us.”

The two sides will begin to come together over the next month, fully integrating within the year. The result will be increased product lines for the newly merged company, combining Creekside shipments of organic wet and dry vegetables, hard squash, tomatoes, melons, figs, apricots, and citrus with Fruit World’s organic and conventional citrus, organic stonefruit, grapes, tomatoes, persimmons, and pomegranates.

The merged company will, therefore, have increased production of organic citrus and organic stonefruit under one roof to maximize customer service and satisfaction.

“We’ve known each other a long time. I have a deep respect for Brenda and have seen her build an amazing company in Creekside. She’s well-known in the industry for having a high level of integrity and commitment. I’m excited to see how we grow and build success together. Brenda has put together a great team that I see fitting well with our committed team at Fruit World,” she concludes.

With nothing but open road on the horizon, this journey is only just beginning.