AGRO Merchants Group, Atlanta, acquired Cool Pak Solutions, a Port of Long Beach, Calif.-based provider of storage and repacking services. This transaction expands AGRO’s service capabilities on the West Coast and reinforces its position in fresh produce repacking operations.

Cool Pak operates a state-of-the-art, 175,000-square-foot facility located within the overweight corridor at the Port of Long Beach. Originally founded to support produce firms with their import/export activities in and out of Southern California, Cool Pak also offers services, including inspection, grading, repacking, reconditioning, cross-docking and fumigation.

“This transaction adds a strong West Coast produce-focused operation to our network, and perfectly complements AGRO’s existing East Coast storage/repack business based in Vineland, N.J.,” says Dave Moore, president of AGRO Merchants North America. “Trade inflows of fresh fruits and vegetables have consistently grown over time, and today represent a significant percentage of overall produce sales in the U.S. AGRO plays a vital role in this supply chain, and we continue to expand our service capabilities through both internal capital investment and strategic acquisitions. At the same time, we’ve long sought a presence in Southern California, which represents a key produce import market. AGRO has closely followed Cool Pak’s progress since its founding, and I’m thrilled that we were able to complete this important transaction.”

Steve Karo, co-founder of Cool Pak, will lead the business for AGRO as managing director.

“I started Cool Pak with a vision to create a first-of-its-kind, full-service operation in the Port of Long Beach,” adds Karo. “I’m extremely proud of the success we’ve achieved as an organization, and I look forward to continued growth for the business as part of AGRO Merchants Group.”