Lipman Family Farms partners with local farmers

Lipman Family Farms is one of America's largest field tomato grower with full-service tomato and vegetable operating in both open field and protected agriculture.

The company started the Lipman Local Farm Network to deliver the freshest produce year-round. Buying local is helps to support farmer`s businesses in the community, and reduce environmental impacts.

The program combines local products with company’s national distribution network to expand the product range, to bridge the gap between the farming community and customers. The company collaborates with small- to medium-size growers throughout the county to provide customers with seasonal produce, while reducing the environmental impacts from cross-country shipping. Also sharing earth-conscious business practices with local farmers to help them raise the level of their own operations, including education about food safety, quality control, marketing support, purchasing power and sales.

One of company’s first North Carolina partnerships - the Perez Brothers, exemplifies the success of the program. They started out as harvesters on Lipman’s farms in Immokalee, Florida. The companies partnered together in 2002 to cultivate a 50-acre farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Now, tomatoes, chili peppers and bell peppers from the Perez Brothers' farm are available through Lipman Local program.

In addition, the program operates in South Carolina, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

For more information about the program and about some involved farms go by link and visit website.