<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Salinas, CA -</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">12.11.12</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Rocket Farms Herbs, Inc. has acquired the assets of HerbThyme Farms. Rocket Farms is a subsidiary of Monterey Peninsula Horticulture, Inc. and can now add the largest cut herb producer in the U.S. growing and shipping over 5 million pounds of fresh herbs annually in the United States, to its portfolio. The HerbThyme acquisition supports the company's growth strategy to innovate new products, enter new categories, and expand into new channels of distribution, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/rocketFarms_and_herbThymeFarms.jpg" alt="images121012" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“HerbThyme is a great brand supported by 500 talented employees that utilizes cutting edge growing and packaging technologies to produce the finest and freshest cut herbs in the country, which are complementary to our existing potted herb products,” said Monterey Peninsula Horticulture Chief Executive Officer Charles Kosmont. “With the financial resources and operating expertise of a strong parent company we believe HerbThyme can flourish and have a strong future.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">HerbThyme Farms has an estimated 200 acres of conventional farmland as well as 150 acres dedicated to the growing of USDA certified organic herbs.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/basil2.jpg" alt="images121012" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“Having successfully completed similar acquisitions in the past, we are certain that HerbThyme’s transition to new ownership will be a smooth one,” Mr. Kosmont added. “Customers should expect the continued on-time delivery of all products as well as access to a wider selection of herbs, which will now include organic and non-organic cut herbs in addition to our organic potted herbs, which will meet our stringent quality and food safety standards.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/herbthyme01.jpg" alt="images121012" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">HerbThyme’s Chief Executive Officer, Howard Roeder, and the senior management team, will remain to manage the day-to-day operations of the business. The HerbThyme, Herbal Garden and New England brand names will remain unchanged.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Rocket Farms Herbs has also extended job offers to substantially all of HerbThyme’s estimated 500 employees.<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://rocketfarms.com/products/Herbs" target="_new"> Rocket Farms Herbs </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
