Calavo fruits and vegetables
Calavo Growers manufactures fresh, value-added packaged fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat salads and prepared foods offerings.

SANTA PAULA, CALIF. — Calavo Growers, Inc. has acquired a 128,000-square-foot production facility in Riverside, Calif., for approximately $19.4 million. Calavo expects the facility to enhance its national footprint for the company’s Renaissance Food Group, L.L.C. (RFG) business segment. The facility previously was owned and operated by affiliates of the former Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets.

Calavo described the new facility as “nearly turnkey,” meaning RFG should be able to quickly expand capacity to meet growing demand for the company’s fresh, value-added packaged fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat salads and prepared foods offerings.

Lee E. Cole, Calavo
Lee E. Cole, chairman and c.e.o. of Calavo Growers

“This best-in-class facility aligns with and extends our company’s strategic growth initiatives to build a leading market position in the refrigerated fresh packaged foods category,” said Lee E. Cole, chairman and chief executive officer. “The new facility enables us to satisfy demand from several key accounts in Southern California, while providing the platform for deeper market penetration across the southwest, including southern Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Quick-turn, ‘just-in-time’ order fulfillment is a cornerstone of RFG’s operating success, along with the outstanding depth and breadth of its product portfolio.”

In addition to Riverside, Calavo recently acquired a 209,000-square-foot production and distribution center near Jacksonville, Fla., and renovated and expanded an 89,000-square-foot production facility in Houston.