Mack Farms Joins Fresh Solutions Network

Fresh Solutions Network welcomes Mack Farms to their network of grower/shipper partners. This addition brings a major Southeast potato grower with significant early-season volume into the Fresh Solutions Network, as well as partnering with an owner-grower who shares the same passion for providing the highest-quality products and superior customer service. Based in Lake Wales, Florida, Mack Farms grows and packs central and north Florida potatoes from early February through June, and offers the earliest new crop potatoes available each year. The company specializes in red potatoes, which account for around 65% of their total potato volume, with yellow potatoes becoming increasingly important, making up another 25% of shipments; the balance is split between white potatoes, Russets and Fingerlings. Arnold Mack, president and CEO of Mack Farms, has a straightforward view about growing his business. “You’ve got to put profit back into growth or else you’ll stagnate,” he says. Mack Farms recently acquired Okeechobee, Florida-based Eagle Island Farms, adding 3,500 acres in South Florida and a second packing and storage facility to their operations. Over the past five years, Mack Farms has doubled its cooler space and is in the process of adding another 25-30% to its refrigerated capacity. They have acquired new packaging capabilities for small potatoes, as well as investing in specialty grading equipment that gives them state-of-the-art sizing capabilities. Currently, Mack Farms is finalizing another major addition to their already-substantial acreage. “We are thrilled to welcome Mack Farms as the newest partner to Fresh Solutions Network,” says Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Their potato quality and range of offerings are the perfect complement to our other grower/shipper Network partners, and their Florida location strengthens our capabilities for servicing retail and foodservice customers in the southern states. Plus, their ability to harvest and ship the earliest new-crop potatoes will be a real value-adding benefit to our customers throughout the entire country.” We believe in the power of collaboration, adds Triou. “Collaboration is so powerful precisely because of the uniqueness of each of our members, which is why we are so excited to add Mack Farms to our strong and unique Network.”