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Mann Packing Co., has a long and distinguished history in the produce business that dates back to the 1930s, when the country was starting to get out of the Great Depression. And while a lot has changed over the years, the company is still renowned as one that provides customers with outstanding vegetables while enjoying a reputation for honesty and integrity.
“Mann Packing Co. was founded in 1939 by Cy Mann, and we have been packing and shipping fresh vegetables ever since,” says Loree Dowse, director of creative marketing for the Salinas, CA-based firm. “In 2018, we were acquired by Del Monte Fresh Produce, and we now operate as their fresh vegetable division.”
Loree Dowse, director of creative marketing, Mann Packing Co.
Mann entered the organic game in 2005, and within the last few years the company has stepped up its efforts in an attempt to meet the ever-growing demand for organic produce.
“We re-committed to it in 2017, when we doubled the number of products in our organic lineup,” Dowse says. “We now offer nine items.”
Those include packaged broccoli; broccoli and carrots; a medley with broccoli, carrots and cauliflower; broccoli coleslaw, cauliflower florets; green beans; stemless sugar snap peas; a super blend; and a snack tray with ready-for-dipping broccoli, carrots, and celery.
“Core vegetables like organic broccoli always do well, but items like our Organic Veggies Snack Tray are unique in that retail stores cannot create the same product, as they are not an FDA-certified organic producer like we are,” Dowse says.
And Mann has taken great efforts to help bring organics into the mainstream.
“As always with organic produce, it can be challenging to get year-round product that has consistent quality,” Dowse says. “We’ve committed to our program though, as it’s something that is important to consumers.”
Another challenge Dowse notes is replicating some of Mann’s products into organic versions.
“For example, it is almost impossible to obtain organic kohlrabi or Brussels sprouts, two vegetables that we use often in our slaw blends and Nourish Bowls,” she says. “If we want to do an organic version, it has to be tweaked a bit.”
Mann works with top growers throughout the industry to provide the best quality produce and encourage people to live healthy lives.
“Our goal is to inspire healthy lifestyles through wholesome and convenient products,” Dowse says. “We are dedicated to bringing fresh, wholesome products to consumers wherever and whenever they are making food choices.”
Food isn’t healthy if it isn’t safe, and Mann Packing Co. follows the highest standards of food safety at all areas of production, starting with planting, then through the harvesting, processing, and distribution steps. That helps instill in customers’ confidence that the Mann veggies they eat are not only delicious and nutritious, but safe.
The company also supports nutritious living by supporting causes that promote health and well living for underserved and low-income youth, through education and athletics. One initiative is a partnership with the Jr. Giants, which provides young participants with their first baseball glove and nutritious food.
Mann remains committed to sustainability and protecting natural resources. For example, the wash water at its facilities is reused on golf courses and in city landscaping, indeed 90 percent of its waste water gets recycled. The company also demonstrates exceptional responsibility in regard to electricity usage, as it uses the same amount today as it did in 2001, despite a 50-percent increase in capacity.
Mann Packing Co utilizes sustainable practices
It’s a company that follows the principles of farm to table by tracking the processing for more than 40 fresh vegetable products. Mann also offers recommendations on storage, usage, and freshness.
Mann’s future looks bright for numerous reasons, and one of the biggest signs of its growth is the opening of a 130,000-square-foot processing facility in Gonzales, CA, which is scheduled for later this year.
“There is always room to expand our distribution with existing customers, and that’s what we’re focused on this year,” Dowse says.
That growth will lead to more and more people living well, both in terms of taste and health.
