Lipman Family Farms, an Immokalee, Fla.-based vertically integrated supplier of fresh tomatoes and vegetables, has opened its newest fresh-cut facility in Manteca, Calif. Specializing in sliced tomatoes, the new facility marks the company’s eighth fresh-cut operation across North America.
Lipman says the new facility offers transparency and control of the product from farm to processing to plate, and its strategic location supports the company’s ability to service just-in-time deliveries on freshly sliced and diced vegetables.
“Lipman Family Farms believes that fresh-cut, value-added solutions will continue to play a vital role in meeting operator needs,” Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms, told The Packer. “With accelerating demand for consistency, safety and convenience, we see strategic regional infrastructure — like this Northern California facility — as essential for delivering just-in-time freshness with reliability and scale. For us, this is about meeting the needs of foodservice and following through on our vertically integrated vision.”
While the Manteca operation currently specializes in sliced tomatoes, Lipman says the company plans to expand into other core commodities as the facility grows.
“By focusing on tomatoes in Manteca, Lipman can offer speed and flexibility to serve both foodservice and retail deli customers,” Lipman says. “Each segment depends on fresh, consistent and ready-to-use product that’s carefully prepared and quickly delivered. Our expansion to date ensures that we can provide for the California and West Coast region. This complements our geographically diverse fresh-cut locations, with a strong distribution reaching nationwide.”
Lipman says while a number of factors are driving demand for value-added produce in both retail and restaurant foodservice, labor-saving solutions are particularly sought after.
“Labor is a big factor in the growth of value-added produce,” she says. “With ongoing staffing challenges in kitchens and produce departments, foodservice operators are turning to partners like Lipman to provide solutions that reduce the need for on-site processing. Our fresh-cut operations meet that need while maintaining high quality and freshness.”
Food safety is another driver of value-added produce.
“We’re seeing strong and sustained growth. Our investments to date are directly aligned with increasing demand due to the fresh-cut category’s ability to drive consistency, ease labor costs and streamline food safety for foodservice,” Lipman says. “Operators rely on partners who can deliver precision and quality at scale, and we’re expanding our capabilities to meet that need.”
Lipman is eyeing continued expansion as it seeks to meet the growing demand for value-added produce for foodservice applications.
“The opening of our Manteca facility is part of a broad, strategic expansion in fresh-cut and value-added capabilities,” Lipman says. “With eight strategically located facilities across North America and growing demand for ready-to-use produce, we are well positioned to continue that growth. Our integrated model and regional footprint enable us to scale and stay close to our customers.”
To learn more about the company’s fresh-cut capabilities, visit Lipman Family Farms during the IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, Calif., July 31 to Aug. 1.
