Taylor Farms, Salinas, Calif., and Crunch Pak Holding Co., Cashmere, Wash., entered an agreement where Taylor Farms will buy a minority stake in Crunch Pak sliced apples.

The Taylor Farms investment will give Crunch Pak regional distribution to retail and foodservice customers nationwide. In return, the partnership provides Taylor Farms with Crunch Pak’s fresh fruit slicing technology and expertise. 

The majority stake in Crunch Pak will be retained by Dovex Fruit Co., Wenatchee, Wash., and its partners, providing Taylor Farms with access to raw fruit product, organic and conventional.  The Crunch Pak sales, marketing and management teams will remain in place. Bruce Taylor, Taylor Farms CEO, will join the Crunch Pak board of directors.

“The fresh cut industry is rapidly changing; customers are requiring deliveries seven days a week. You have to be national, but with regional delivery across the country,” says Mauro Felizia, Crunch Pak president. “We bring leading-edge technology in slicing the best quality fruit to the table, but we need faster distribution to market. In today’s business environment, logistics, innovation and collaboration are important; our partnership with Taylor Farms will give us that synergy.”

“Our investment in Crunch Pak gives us the fresh fruit slicing technology we need to move into that category,” adds Taylor. “We look forward to working closely with Crunch Pak, as we explore new ways to deliver an unmatched quality of fresh sliced fruit products across a variety of channels.”