Mack Farms Inc. is increasing its Florida potato and watermelon acreage and expanding into other fresh produce items with the purchase of a south Florida produce operation.
The Lake Wales, Florida-based Mack Farms has recently acquired Eagle Island Farms of Okeechobee, FL. Eagle Island grows and ships cabbage, potatoes, and sweet corn and sweet onions from about 2000 irrigated acres. The company is also experimenting with broccoli and plans to harvest new acreage of Napa and bok choy in February and March.
Mack Farms is a grower-shipper of Florida new crop potatoes, and watermelons. Watermelons are marketed through subsidiary McMelon, Inc. Mack Farms grows and ships Florida potatoes from early February through June, and watermelon from April through early June.
“This move allows us to increase our irrigated acreage with good cropland, and will help with crop rotation” said Arnold Mack, president of Mack Farms. “We will continue to grow and ship fresh cabbage and sweet corn from the 40,000 sq. ft. Eagle Island packing facility which has pre- cooling and refrigerated storage. It also gives us a second packinghouse for our spring watermelons.”
Arnold Mack entered the produce industry by growing watermelons in South Alabama in 1976. He was a pioneer of growing seedless watermelons, and during the 1980’s started his Florida growing operations.
Source: Mack Farms Inc.