Market Fresh Produce buys former home of Harlin Fruit

Last edited 2:16 p.m., Sept. 11, 2014

Nixa-based Market Fresh Produce LLC last month finalized its asset acquisition of Harlin Fruit Co., a 100-year-old Monett produce business.

In the deal closed Aug. 22 for an undisclosed amount, Market Fresh gains control of Harlin Fruit's 16,000-square-foot facility in Monett from former owner Jerry Sutton. The deal with Market Fresh also included customer data. Harlin Fruit closed in May as Sutton liquidated its assets and held an auction in preparation for retirement. After the liquidation sale, most of the company's 15 employees sought employment elsewhere, said Mark Stratton, Market Fresh's human resources director, noting the newly rebranded Market Fresh facility in Monett would initially employ up to 20 people. Market Fresh currently employs 55 total, including 16 at its administrative office in Nixa.

Market Fresh, a $50 million business that ships produce to food services companies in 42 states, will utilize the Monett facility as a repackaging center for tomatoes, as well as distribution of potatoes, onions, peppers, avocados and kiwifruit, in an eight-hour radius of the facility.

"Having that facility here will have a huge value for us as we handle the customers in the Midwest," Stratton said, noting the center complements Market Fresh's repackaging facility for the Midwest in Tampa, Fla.