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Mucci Farms heads west, enters marketing agreement with Houweling

Mucci Farms has entered an exclusive marketing agreement with Casey Houweling to market all produce grown in its Camarillo, Calif. facility under the Mucci Farms brand.

As part of the agreement, Mucci Farms will also be opening two new distribution centres in Camarillo and Delta, B.C.

“It’s an exciting day for us as this establishes a presence for us out West. Partnering with the well-respected Houweling’s team gives us a strong starting point in the region as we look to expand our reach across the continent,” said Bert Mucci, CEO of Mucci Farms. “Houweling’s growing team lives up to their slogan of Mastery Under Glass, and we’re looking forward to bringing their premium product into the Mucci Group.”

Year-round production of a variety of tomatoes and cucumbers will start in mid-October.

This new partnership will benefit from the lifelong growing expertise of Mucci and Houweling who are both second generation growers with an immense passion to further the industry through advanced growing practices and world class innovation.

“We were looking for an exceptional marketing company that would meet the needs of what we grow and that can maximize the returns for quality produce.  It was important to us that we chose a marketer who understands not only what it takes to market, but also understands what it takes to grow great quality produce,” said Houweling, who will oversee the growing operation alongside his very capable daughter, Monica Paulson. “We also focus heavily on growing in a sustainable manner by using waste energy, closed loop recycling systems and biological pest controls to minimize the impact on the planet.”

With the Mucci’s first 75-acre U.S. expansion in Huron, Ohio complete, the partnership with Casey Houweling will help them strategically grow within the United States and establish a presence on the West Coast. This effort is further supported by the Company’s two new distribution centres in Michigan and Texas.

Houweling’s was originally founded in 1956 by Cornelius Houweling who began with a floral greenhouse and berry farm in Langley, British Columbia. His son Casey joined the family business in 1976 and spearheaded growth and expansion leading to U.S. expansion into California in 1996.

Mucci Farms’ headquarters are based in Kingsville, Ont., and is vertically integrated with a combined acreage of over 2,000-acres across a global grower partner network.