KINGSVILLE, ON - There is a lot going on in terms of growth for Mucci Farms, not the least of which is that the company just acquired controlling interest of fellow Ontario-based greenhouse operator Orangeline Farms.
“It’s an exciting time for the company as we continue our aggressive expansion plans to increase our local and regional production,” Bert Mucci, CEO of Mucci Farms, said. “The Orangeline acquisition comes with a 32-acre greenhouse and a warehouse with additional land totalling 100 acres. Consumers are demanding more local production, and we’re listening. We also have plans in place to build on the additional land that was received as part of the agreement.”
Orangeline was founded by the Kniaziew family in 2000. The brand is an award-winning grower well known for its unique pepper offerings grown under the Zing!™ Healthy Foods brand, according to a press release.
“In searching for growth opportunities for both Orangeline’s staff and our ever loyal customers, the chance to partner with a world class organization like Mucci Farms was an easy decision to make,” said Orangeline Founder Duffy Kniaziew.
Mucci Farms is known to have an eye for branding excellence, with plenty of awards of its own to show for it, and the company said in a press release that it will continue to use the Zing! brand for the foreseeable future as it has quietly established itself among retailers and consumers.
“Duffy and his team have done a great job with the brand and it’s familiar in our region, so we’re not looking to make any dramatic changes at the moment,” said Emily Murracas, Mucci’s Director of Marketing.
In addition to Orangeline’s existing greenhouse and warehouse facilities, the company also announced expansion plans in Canada and the United States.
Mucci purchased a spread of acreage adjacent to its 60-acre project, boosting it now to 75 acres, in Huron, Ohio.
“The first 24-acre phase is in its second season of harvesting, and we’ll be building two more identical ranges. Phase two construction is already underway,” remarked Bert Mucci. “The Ohio program has gotten off to a great start and we’re looking forward to growing our presence in the community and the regional market.”
An exciting time seems almost an understatement for all the Mucci team seems to have in the works. A vertically-integrated fruit and vegetable grower that owns and operates 250 acres of tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce, and strawberry greenhouses in Canada and the United States, with a partner-grower network of 1,500 acres across North America, it looks as though the company is poised to close out 2019 with a bang.
