<p><strong>Immokalee, FL</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Lipman Produce, the largest field tomato grower in North America, has aquired a packing house from Ace Tomato Co. The packing house, located in Manteca, California, will join Lipman’s nationwide network of repacking, packing, and processing companies after the 2012 tomato season culminates. This acquisition is Lipmans fourth in the last eight months, contributing to the company’s expansion.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“As a year-round supplier, it’s critical that we operate in geographically and seasonally diverse areas,” says Gerry Odell, Chief Farming Officer for Lipman. “This acquisition expands our reach in California and will allow Lipman to increase distribution of fresh produce and tomatoes to customers in western states.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“We are pleased to work with Lipman – another family owned produce company whose values and traditions are similar to ours” adds Kathleen Lagorio Janssen, President of Ace Tomato.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.lipmanproduce.com/" target="_new"> Lipman Produce </a><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.lagorio.com/companies/ace-tomato-company/default.htm" target="_new"> Ace Tomato Co. </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
