FYFFES STREAMLINES PORTFOLIO FOR STRATEGIC GROWTH; MARTORI FARMS ACQUIRES SOL GROUP TO SECURE 12-MONTH MELON SUPPLY

Martori Farms Acquires Sol Melon Business Creating One of the World’s Largest Year-Round Melon Producers
Geneva and Scottsdale, 13 October 2025 – Fyffes and Martori Farms, a fourth generation, family-owned leader in fresh produce, are delighted to announce their agreement to sell Fyffes entire melon business to Martori, including farms in Honduras and Guatemala and the distribution business in Miami, Florida.

Martori Farms, with deep roots in Arizona and California, is well known for its signature melons: Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Traditional Honeydew, Golden Honeydew, and the innovative Kandy Lemon Drop Melon. With this acquisition, Martori Farms will offer a seamless, year-round supply of melons, strengthening its position as a leading supplier across the USA and Canada.

Sol Melons stands as the largest supplier of winter melons in North America. This integration brings Martori Farms a truly year-round business model, while enabling Fyffes to sharpen its focus on core perennial categories—bananas and pineapples—by dedicating resources and expertise to their continued growth and market leadership.

A Shared Commitment to Quality and Innovation

Martori Farms, founded in 1913, has built its reputation on innovation and stewardship. Best known for its proprietary Kandy Plus™ Cantaloupe, Martori has invested decades in refining melon genetics, enhancing flavour, and consistently delivering premium fruit to leading retailers and foodservice providers.

With SOL Group’s vertically integrated farming and distribution network, the combined company will extend these standards across a global footprint, providing continuous supply, broader varietal offerings, and enhanced service levels to customers.

“Our goal has always been to deliver melons that exceed consumer expectations—melons that delight with flavour, appearance, and reliability,” said Steve Martori III, CEO of Martori Farms. “The acquisition of SOL Group allows us to extend that promise across all 12 months of the year, while working with an extraordinary team of growers who share our dedication to quality and sustainability.”

Stewardship of People and the Planet

Since the appointment of new management in October 2021, Fyffes has deployed transformational practices in its melon business. This included:

• Investment in community welfare projects such as medical brigades, medical clinics and healthcare staff, nutrition programmes;
• Indigenous tree planting and other environmental initiatives;
• Enhanced labour practices and policies, including partnerships with the Honduran unions, collective bargaining agreements and human rights assessments;
• Upgraded machinery, and culture programmes to enhance health, safety and gender equality.

Commenting on this development, Helge Sparsoe, CEO of Fyffes, stated: “Over the past four years, we have made significant investments in our winter melon business—enhancing quality, championing worker health and safety, upholding human rights, supporting community wellbeing, and introducing innovative practices. The result is a business we are profoundly proud of. As we searched for a buyer, our top priority was to find a company that shares our values—especially when it comes to worker wellbeing, customer service, and uncompromising quality. We are confident that under Martori’s leadership, SOL Group’s employees, the land, and customers will benefit from this same commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence.”

Industry Impact and Future Growth

Martori Farms and SOL Group’s combined company’s scale will deliver transformative benefits for retail and foodservice partners:

• Largest Global Melon Platform: Farming and distribution operations across the U.S., Central America, and South America create the world’s most reliable and diversified melon supply chain.
• Consistency: Year-round cantaloupe, watermelon, and mixed melon supply from a vertically integrated platform.
• Innovation: Expanded R&D and breeding programs leveraging Martori’s flavour-focused genetics and SOL Group’s field expertise.
• Sustainability: Shared commitment to farming practices that protect natural resources and enhance community wellbeing.
• Service: Enhanced customer programmes, logistics coordination, and promotional opportunities for retail and foodservice.

This transaction also positions Martori Farms for continued growth, building on its leadership in melons while creating a platform for expanded produce offerings in the future.