Tomato giant grows market share

IMMOKALEE -- Lipman, the largest field tomato grower in the country, acquired Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Branscomb Produce this week. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition will complement Lipman's existing business efforts, which include research and development, farming, packing, processing, repacking, and procurement. Lipman CEO Kent Shoemaker also called Eddie Branscomb and Al Yancey, two of the acquired firm's business leaders, “respected tomato industry veterans” in a release announcing the deal.

Immokalee-based Lipman now operates 23 locations throughout the U.S., and has more than 4,000 employees on payroll. The company spoke to the Business Review in January about its plan to expand through acquisitions (see “Access to the Acre,” Jan. 1).