Fyffes outlines streamlined portfolio for strategic growth

Fyffes BB #:111359 and Martori Farms BB #:100428, a fourth generation, family-owned leader in fresh produce, are delighted to announce their agreement to sell Fyffes’ entire melon business to Martori, including farms in Honduras and Guatemala and the distribution business in Miami, Florida.  

Martori Farms, with deep roots in Arizona and California, is well known for its signature melons: Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Traditional Honeydew, Golden Honeydew, and the innovative Kandy Lemon Drop Melon. With this acquisition, Martori Farms will offer a seamless, year-round supply of melons, strengthening its position as a leading supplier across the USA and Canada. 

Sol Melons stands as the largest supplier of winter melons in North America. This integration brings Martori Farms a truly year-round business model, while enabling Fyffes to sharpen its focus on core perennial categories—bananas and pineapples—by dedicating resources and expertise to their continued growth and market leadership. 

A Shared Commitment to Quality and Innovation – Martori Farms, founded in 1913, has built its reputation on innovation and stewardship. Best known for its proprietary Kandy Plus Cantaloupe, Martori has invested decades in refining melon genetics, enhancing flavor, and consistently delivering premium fruit to leading retailers and foodservice providers. 

With SOL Group’s vertically integrated farming and distribution network, the combined company will extend these standards across a global footprint, providing continuous supply, broader varietal offerings, and enhanced service levels to customers. 

“Our goal has always been to deliver melons that exceed consumer expectations—melons that delight with flavour, appearance, and reliability,” said Steve Martori III, CEO of Martori Farms. “The acquisition of SOL Group allows us to extend that promise across all 12 months of the year, while working with an extraordinary team of growers who share our dedication to quality and sustainability.” 

Stewardship of People and the Planet – Since the appointment of new management in October 2021, Fyffes has deployed transformational practices in its melon business. This included: investment in community welfare projects such as medical brigades, medical clinics and healthcare staff, nutrition programs; indigenous tree planting and other environmental initiatives; enhanced labor practices and policies, including partnerships with the Honduran unions, collective bargaining agreements and human rights assessments; and upgraded machinery, and culture programs to enhance health, safety and gender equality.  

Commenting on this development, Helge Sparsoe, CEO of Fyffes, stated: “Over the past four years, we have made significant investments in our winter melon business—enhancing quality, championing worker health and safety, upholding human rights, supporting community wellbeing, and introducing innovative practices. The result is a business we are profoundly proud of. As we searched for a buyer, our top priority was to find a company that shares our values—especially when it comes to worker wellbeing, customer service, and uncompromising quality. We are confident that under Martori’s leadership, SOL Group’s employees, the land, and customers will benefit from this same commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence.” 

Industry Impact and Future Growth – Martori Farms and SOL Group’s combined company’s scale will deliver transformative benefits for retail and foodservice partners: 1) Largest Global Melon Platform: Farming and distribution operations across the USA, Central America, and South America create the world’s most reliable and diversified melon supply chain; 2) Consistency: Year-round cantaloupe, watermelon, and mixed melon supply from a vertically integrated platform; 3) Innovation: Expanded R&D and breeding programs leveraging Martori’s flavor-focused genetics and SOL Group’s field expertise; 4) Sustainability: Shared commitment to farming practices that protect natural resources and enhance community wellbeing; and 5) Service: Enhanced customer programs, logistics coordination, and promotional opportunities for retail and foodservice. 

This transaction also positions Martori Farms for continued growth, building on its leadership in melons while creating a platform for expanded produce offerings in the future. 

About Martori Farms – Founded in 1913, Martori Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned grower, packer, and shipper of premium melons. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company operates across multiple U.S. growing regions to deliver consistent supply. Martori is widely recognized for its Kandy Plus Cantaloupe, innovation in flavor and genetics, commitment to sustainability, and stewardship of its employees and communities. Today, Martori Farms supplies major retailers and foodservice providers across North America with high-quality fresh produce. www.martorifarms.com 

About Fyffes – For over 130 years Fyffes has brought a choice of tropical produce to countless millions around the world. We achieve the highest quality by nurturing relationships with our growers, supporting our employees, and diligently serving each link in the chain: production, procurement, shipping, ripening, distribution, and marketing. This approach has earned Fyffes leadership across multiple markets; today we are the largest importer of Fairtrade-certified bananas in the world. We are also one of the largest banana and pineapple importers in Europe and the biggest melon importer in North America. We became part of the Sumitomo Corporation in 2017, advancing our industry leadership in many exciting ways. www.fyffes.com