Following two successful transactions in the citrus sector last year, Verdant Partners and Golden Sun Marketing have announced they will engage in deeper collaboration work for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the produce sector. 

Illinois-based Verdant Partners is a leading transaction advisory firm that also includes Fresh Fruit Portal founder Gustavo Yentzen amongst its advisors, while Golden Sun Marketing is based in Minnesota acting as a strategy and marketing services company focused on the fresh produce supply chain.

"We are seeing interest from many produce company owners for an exit strategy, at the same time we see private equity companies and other produce companies wanting to acquire in this sector and make deeper investments,” Verdant Partners managing partner Dean V. Cavey explained in a release.

"As we look at the produce sector, we see a lot of opportunities from both strategic and financial buyers. Our combined expertise, coupled with years of experience, enables us to provide one of a kind insights in both the M&A process as well as the produce side of business,” added Golden Sun Marketing owner and president Don Goodwin.

Goodwin is a 38-year veteran of the produce industry with direct experience across the entire produce supply chain from seed, grower/shipper, to retail which affords him unique insights across the fresh produce supply chain. In recent years, Goodwin and his team have worked on a wide range of projects including: citrus, sweet corn, peaches, greens, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, apples, grapes, and more.

Founded in 1998, Verdant’s focus covers the span of crop agriculture, with transaction experience extending beyond seed, crop inputs, technology, fresh produce, processing and more. With many years of global combined professional experience, Verdant’s group advisors are sharply focused and experience-based.

Verdant's advisors include professionals located in offices across North America, South America, Europe and Australia. Verdant advises privately held or family businesses, public corporations, multinationals, venture and buyout funds, and technology companies throughout the world.

Since 1998, Verdant has initiated and managed successful transactions and alliances valued at more than US$2.4 billion.

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