Mission Produce and its import partner in China, Lantao, are pursuing counterfeiters of the U.S.-based company's packaging in the Chinese market.

A release said the companies intercepted knock-off boxes of 'Mission' fruit on the market in the Asian country, which appeared to be repacked fruit from another source that was placed in flats resembling the organization's packaging and logo design.

"We’ve contacted the authorities, and are pursuing all legal remedies to track down and prosecute the perpetrators," Mission CEO Steve Barnard said.

Lantao CEO John Wang said the counterfeiters were attempting to piggy-back on the marketing and ripening work that only Mission, Lantao and Pagoda have done in China.

"We are working together to protect the brand and not allow inferior fruit to confuse consumers and jeopardize what we have built together," he said.

The news comes recently after Mission, Lantao and grocery chain Pagoda inked a deal to provide ripened fruit in the Chinese market, which Barnard expected to help spur 'explosive growth'.

"Once Chinese consumers start buying pre-ripened avocados, we expect acceptance in China to reach levels of further-developed markets like North America, Europe and Japan," Barnard said.

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