H. Brooks and J&J Distributing produce firms bought; to become New Harvest Foods
By PIONEER PRESS | news@pioneerpress.com
PUBLISHED: May 23, 2019 at 3:29 pm | UPDATED: May 23, 2019 at 5:10 pm
Two long-standing east metro produce firms have been bought and merged to create a new healthy foods company.
J&J Distributing of St. Paul and H. Brooks of New Brighton, will become New Harvest Foods. The two companies employ more than 225 workers; no changes to the workforce at this time are planned, officials said.
Ron Carkoski has been named CEO of New Harvest. Carkoski is a 42-year veteran of the produce industry, serving recently as CEO of Pennsylvania-based Four Seasons Produce.
New Harvest is controlled by Dragonfly Group, based in Edina. Led by Jason Jaynes, Dragonfly is a family-owned, family-operated business that invests in other family-owned companies.
By combining J&J Distributing and H. Brooks, “New Harvest Foods is positioned to be a customer’s first choice for produce,” Carkoski said in a prepared statement.
Phillip Brooks, a member of the family that founded H. Brooks in 1905, touted the deal for creating “synergies backed by the quality and service for which both combining companies are known.”
Jim Hannigan, a founder of J&J Distributing (created in 1978,) added that the deal helps expand his company’s focus on innovation.
