Six years after selling Purity Organic, Greg Holzman and Steve Akagaki rejoined forces to create TerraFresh Organics (TFO), a new organic fruit company based in Mill Valley, Calif., that will focus on supplying organic citrus, mangos, stone fruit and grapes to North America.
In partnership with Harbinger Group, Chicago, TFO established grower partnerships with Misionero, Gonzaels, Calif.; Green Wave Farms, Vernon, Calif.; and Vertical Foods, Monterey, Calif., and plans a full roll-out of organic fruits under Misionero’s Earth Greens label.
“We are excited to join with the Harbinger Group of companies,” says Holzman, co-founder and managing partner of TFO. “The Harbinger Group’s working knowledge, grower network, distribution model and commitment to the organic space is unparalleled. The opportunity to work with Green Wave Farms, Vertical Farms and Misionero is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and I’ve never been more excited about our future. As a veteran of the produce business, I believe the time’s right to reengage with organic farmers, as the category continues to thrive.”
Holzman and Akagaki set out to not only support organic farmers, but to also seek conventional growers whose farms could be converted into organic farms. Holzman and Akagaki strategize to fill windows in the market to supply organic fruit year-round.
“We are thrilled to be reviving past partnerships and developing new, strategic relationships with growers and farmers,” says Akagaki, co-founder and managing partner of TFO. “The partnership with the Harbinger Group brings us technology and other resources that are crucial to being a top-tiered supplier. It allows us the ability to service our customers and build programs that meet the growing expectations of today’s consumer. The world has gotten smaller, the choices greater and the competition has become fiercer. I believe TerraFresh Organics is well-positioned to be a leader in the organic category.”