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HealthierMontereyCounty.org SAY IT WITH US: ARUGULA. TheNunesCompanyElectsTomM.Nunes(T5) President SALINAS,CA–The Nunes Company, one of the nation's largest grow- er-shippers of conventional and organic fresh produce marketed under the Foxy® brand name, has elected Tom M. Nunes (T5) Presi- dent of the Company. Since the early 1930s, the Nunes family has been practicing innovative farming meth- ods in California's Salinas Valley and since that time has expanded its opera- tions to Huron and Oxnard, California, Yuma, Arizona, and Yerington, Nevada. The Foxy® brand was born when brothers Bob and Tom Nunes formed the Nunes Company, Inc. in 1976. With Bob and Tom's guidance, second and third generation Nunes fam- ily members are at the helm today, ensuring that their tradition in innovation, land stewardship, and lasting relationships with part- ners, growers, landowners, employees and customers continues. "My brother, Bob, and I started in this industry over 60 years ago. I've had the pleasure of watching our children grow the business and look forward to watch- ing my grandson in his new role as President of The Nunes Company. He's a true leader in this industry and represents our families' core values," says Tom Nunes, Sr. (T3), co-founder of the Company. T5 began working for the Company more than 20 years ago a er graduat- ing from Cornell University. He initially moved to the Company's Yuma operations and then began the process of working through all areas of the Company. "I've watched Tom (T5) grow up in our business. He has experience in all aspects of our organization including Provided Photo of Tom Nunes V Church Brothers acquires commodity vegetable business from Growers Express IncludesLicensingAgreementforGreenGiant™FreshCommodityVegetables Church Brothers Farms announced in late January 2019 the acquisition of the commodity vegetable busi- ness of Growers Express, LLC and a licensing agreement to extend the Green Giant™ Fresh brand to new varieties in partnership with Growers Express. Church Brothers Farms said the acquired assets include the growing, harvesting and selling of field-packed vegetable com- modities currently branded under Growers Express' Green Giant Fresh license. Grow- ers Express retains the high growth, value-added segment of its business where inno- vations such as Cauliflower Crumbles®, Vegetable Noo- dles and Green Giant Fresh Vegetable Bowls were first brought to market. "The transition of our com- modity vegetable business allows us to better leverage our expertise as innovators, and marketers. It also gives us bandwidth to deliver more new products, con- sumer-focused innovation and value-added products to advance the business of our customers," said Jamie Strachan, CEO of Growers Express. "We are a business rooted in farming, and we've been serving the commodity category for 30 years, so it was vital we find a partner that allows for seamless continuity for our farming operations, and Church Brothers Farms is an ideal partner." The Growers Express commodity sales team will transition to Church Brothers Farms before the end of the desert winter growing season. As a result, customers will receive the same quality, service, branded product, personnel, volume and service levels throughout the transition. Brian Church, CEO of Church Brothers Farms, said "We built a superior land base over the last decade making this a great fit. Church Brothers Farms is positioned to align this new business into an ex- isting vertically integrated program, which helps make the shi in business a s eamless change fo r Growers Express custom- ers in terms of the consis- tency of the field packed vegetable product line." The transaction is ex- pected to expand Church Brothers Farms' overall annual production by 15 percent to 20 percent. "This move increases efficiencies and leverages the strengths of both or- ganizations," Church said. "There will be no overlap of customers by combin- ing these programs; our existing program is pre- dominantly food service and Growers Express' is retail. Existing customers of both companies can be assured their designated volume is still in place, just shi ing all under one company." The Church family has a legacy of service and innovation. For more information about the company visit, www. ChurchBrothers.com. production, cooling, ship- ping, sales, and marketing. Most importantly, he has a passion and insatiable curiosity about our busi- ness, and constantly seeks to build on his knowledge and leadership. I believe his capabilities will make him an exceptional President of the Company we started over 40 years ago," says Bob Nunes, Sr., co-founder of the Company. Tom Nunes, Jr.(T4) who has served as President since 2006, remains as Ex- ecutive Vice- President. "It gives me great pleasure to pass the torch on to my son. He has earned the position through hard work in all critical areas of our business and will bring new energy and leadership to our Com- pany. "I am humbled and honored at the confidence shown in me. I have been blessed with a strong family and great mentors and look forward to working with them to face the challenges of our industry, and to carry forward the traditions of this Company," says Tom (T5). For more information, please visit www.foxy.com or one of the following so- cial pages: www.facebook/ com/FoxyProduce, www. inst agr am.c om/F ox yP ro - duce, or www.twitter.com/ FoxyProduce. Website photo of Nunes Family FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 SANTACRUZSENTINEL.COM | | 3 C

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