Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., announced that its North America subsidiary, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mann Packing Co., Inc., a grower, processor and supplier of fresh and value-added vegetable products based in Salinas, Calif.

“We are extremely pleased about our acquisition of Mann Packing, a leader in the fresh and value-added vegetable category,” says Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte. “Mann Packing’s strength in the vegetable category, one of the fastest growing fresh food segments, will allow us to diversify our business, leverage our distribution network and infrastructure and increase our market reach. In addition, this transaction will provide us with synergies, enhancing our ability to better serve our combined customers and address consumers’ needs for healthier products. This acquisition is a significant step toward our goal to be the world’s leading supplier of healthful, wholesome and nutritious fresh and prepared food and beverages for consumers.”