Crop One Welcomes Leading Mushroom Producer to Advisory Board


Senior executives from The Giorgi Companies, Inc. further strengthen Crop One’s advisory team

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Crop One Holdings (“Crop One” or “the Company”), the world’s largest vertical farm operator through its FreshBox Farms brand, today announced that several executives from The Giorgi Companies, Inc. (“TGCI”), parent of Giorgi Mushroom Co., Giorgio Fresh Co., and Giorgio Foods, Inc., a leading grower and distributer of fresh, frozen, canned, jarred and value-added mushroom products, will join the Company’s Advisory Board. Crop One’s Advisory Board was founded in 2017 and includes leading professionals across the food, consumer goods and technology industries.

“We are very interested in the potential of vertical farming to transform the fresh produce industry,” said Joe Caldwell, President of Giorgi Mushroom Co. and Giorgio Fresh Co.  “We are excited to be partnering with Crop One’s innovative team to help them further expand their capabilities.”

“Since the inception of our Advisory Board, our members have been invaluable in offering insights, strategies and viewpoints to our management team. The Giorgi Companies team adds terrific depth and breadth of experience in the fresh and processed produce industry, and we are thrilled to have them join us,” said Sonia Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Crop One Holdings.  

Joe Caldwell brings over 30 years of experience in the mushroom industry to Crop One’s Advisory Board.   As President of TGCI’s farming and fresh produce businesses, Mr. Caldwell helps drive TGCI’s industry-leading mushroom business platform – from growing and packing to service and delivery. TGCI’s focus on detail and perfection – just like Crop One – has enabled the company to set the mushroom industry standard for quality and reliability.

Brian Loiseau, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and R&D for Giorgio Foods, Inc. will also join Crop One’s Advisory Board. Mr. Loiseau brings over 20 years of consumer packaged goods marketing experience from both The Hershey Company and TGCI to Crop One’s Advisory Board. 

“Consumers continue to demand clean, nutrient-rich, healthy products, and retailers continue to seek better solutions for offering sustainable, economically viable fresh food,” said Loiseau. “We look forward to leveraging our own go-to-market experiences to help Crop One bring exceptional quality produce to everyone’s kitchen tables.”

Crop One is the only vertical farmer with a proven model at-scale. The Company’s brand, FreshBox Farms, has been in commercial production longer than any other major vertical farmer in the United States. Using advanced, soilless hydroponic growing technology and proprietary plant science, Crop One grows clean, nutritional, tasty and pesticide-free leafy greens in sustainable, modular enclosures. FreshBox Farms’ leafy greens offer unmatched health benefits and freshness year-round, and, as a result of the Company’s superior capital efficiency, Crop One is able to produce the highest quality greens at a quarter of the cost and at 20 percent to 60 percent higher yields than any other major vertical farm operator.

About Crop One Holdings

San Mateo, California-based Crop One Holdings is a vertical farming holding company for two subsidiaries – FreshBox Farms, Millis, Mass., and a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering, Dubai South, United Emirates. Crop One has been in commercial production longer than any other major vertical farmer in the U.S. It produces the highest crop yield per square foot, at 25% of the capital cost of any vertical farm, due to its unique combination of proprietary technology platform and best-in-class plant science. For more information on Crop One or vertical farming, please visit the Company website at croponeholdings.com or follow FreshBox Farms on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest company news.            

About The Giorgi Companies

Started in 1928 and based in Blandon, Pennsylvania, The Giorgi Companies, Inc. is a privately held, fresh produce and value-added food manufacturing and food packaging company with a long-term focus.  For more information, see www.thegiorgicompanies.com

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