The 50-50 merger will strengthen family farms and expand services for customers
Californian fresh produce companies Fruit World and Creekside Organics have announced a 50-50 merger of the two organisations, effective immediately.
According to Fruit World’s CEO and owner Bianca Kaprielian and Creekside Organics’ CEO, president and owner Brenda Haught the move would see a strategic alignment of shared values and vision, and strengthen each leader’s long-held commitment to supporting family farms, combining decades of organic farming, sales, and marketing expertise under one roof.
Kaprielian said the partnership was a natural evolution for Fruit World.
“Before this merger, our companies already shared so much in common–a commitment to family farmers, an organic-first approach, a focus on producing the highest quality fruits and vegetables in the industry, strong core values, and a passion for outstanding service,” said Kaprielian.
Haught said the merger would not just uniting the operations but strengthening their ability to grow, innovate, and deliver even more value the people it serves.
“Family farms are important to our respective companies, our communities, to our food supply, and 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,” said Haught.
“This merger leverages our combined expertise in farming, growing, packing, sales and marketing. It opens up exciting new opportunities for our staff, growers, and customers and we are looking forward to new opportunities to serve and delight in every aspect of what we do.”
The newly formed company will move forward under the Creekside Organics name, and the Fruit World label will be one of the company’s flagship brands. Creekside will market under the brands Fruit World, Capay Organic, and Creekside Organics.
Kaprielian and Haught will become co-CEO’s leading the company. The leadership team also will feature key members of both companies’ ownership groups including Fruit World owners Craig and Angelica Kaprielian and Creekside Organics and Capay Organic owners Noah Barnes, Thaddeus Barsotti and Freeman Barsotti.
The companies will transition to a fully integrated organisation over the next few months, retaining all staff and preserving the relationships, expertise, and values that have driven both businesses forward.
By joining forces, the two companies can deliver an enhanced service and expanded product offerings, providing a wider range of high-quality produce.
Creekside Organics supplies organic artichokes, broccoli, baby broccoli, brussel sprouts, baby bok choy, cauliflower, celery, chards, cabbages, kales, lettuces, herbs, squashes, peppers, beans, peas, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, melons, figs, apricots, and citrus.
Meanwhile, Fruit World supplies organic and conventional citrus, organic stonefruit, grapes, tomatoes, persimmons, and pomegranates.
