Mastronardi Aquires Backyard Farms; Volume Grows from Port of Oakland

Mastronardi Aquires Backyard Farms; Volume Grows from Port of Oakland

DSCN2858+1Canadian greenhouse growing operation Mastronardi Produce and purchased another greenhouse growing facility in the state of Maine.

Family owned and operated fourth generation business Mastronardi Produce of Kingsville, ON has acquired New England year-round greenhouse tomato grower Backyard Farms of Madison, ME.  Mastronardi The leading grower and shipper of specialty and commodity greenhouse produce in North America,  Backyard was launched 10 years ago and ships primarily throughout the Northeastern United States.

Together, Mastronardi Produce and Backyard Farms will grow and ship non-GMO verified tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers to the top food retailers in North America.  Backyard Farms operates two greenhouses totaling 42-acres

About Mastronardi Produce

Ours span over 60 years to the pioneering of the North American greenhouse industry. Before Grandpa Umberto Mastronardi came along, there were no commercial greenhouses in North America. His vision was to provide consumers with fresh greenhouse grown vegetables all year long. After four generations, the Mastronardi family still owns and manages what is now the leading greenhouse vegetable company on the continent, growing and selling world-class tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

Port of Oakland Cargo Handling Update

California’s Port of Oakland saw import cargo increase 19 percent in March compared with a year ago.
Total loaded container volume for both imports and exports, were up 9.3 percent. The increase contrasted with a 9.2 percent decline in February, according to a news release.
“This is a nice rebound,” maritime director John Driscoll, said in the release. “We’re watching now to find out if it signals stronger trade growth for the rest of the year.”
Port figures indicated 402 ships called in Oakland during the first three months of 2017, down about 5.6 percent from a year ago.  At the same time, those ships carried an average of 8.4 percent more containers in and out of Oakland.  The conflicting trends point to greater volume on fewer ships, according to the release.
That trend will result in several positive trends, according to the release, including reduced vessel operating expenses for shipping lines, less demand for berthing space at marine terminals and a reduction in diesel emissions at port because of fewer vessel calls.
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