According to The Packer produce industry newspaper, three Monte Vista-based potato growing, packing and shipping operations have formed a marketing alliance they say will enable them to readily meet increasing demands from consolidated customers.
The Spud Seller Inc., T&C Sanderson Farms Inc., and Wright Brothers will pool their sales and marketing operations and operate as a unified entity at one site. The alliance did not disclose the location of the combined operation.
According to The Packer, the sales staffs will operate independently until they merge Oct. 16. Growing, shipping and packing operations will remain essentially the same, with only minor tweaking, the alliance said.
Lynn McCullough, president of Spud Seller, will become CEO. Van Rasmussen, marketing director at Spud Seller, will serve the alliance as chief operating officer.
In the planning and development stages for more than a year, the alliance will offer year-round supplies of russet, Yukon Gold and red potatoes.
All products will be shipped under their current independent labels until an alliance banner is developed and ready for use, perhaps by December. At that point, the existing labels will disappear.