Pacific Coast Fruit Co., one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest independent produce distributors with warehouses in Kent and Portland, has acquired Northwest Specialty Produce, a Seattle premier produce supplier.

Similar to Pacific Coast Fruit, Northwest Specialty Produce is a multi-generational family business built on honesty, respect and treating customers like family, according to a Feb. 1 Pacific Coast Fruit media release. Together, they will increase Pacific Coast Fruit Company’s reach, gain operational efficiencies and provide enhanced customer service capabilities by offering a comprehensive line of produce, specialty items and programs from a single provider.

The acquisition was finalized on Jan. 29.

Northwest Specialty Produce’s long-lasting customer relationships and direct selling capabilities were natural fits with Pacific Coast Fruit’s goals and ethos. Pacific Coast Fruit will incorporate Northwest Specialty’s line of specialty herbs and customer service including comprehensive merchandising into its capabilities across markets. As a result, Pacific Coast Fruit will increase service and product options for clients, strengthen its growth in the Washington market and gain warehouse and transportation efficiencies.

“For many years, we’ve been impressed with Northwest Specialty Produce and the reputation the company has earned for their great people, dedicated service to customers and high quality products,” said Pacific Coast Fruit Company’s CEO David Nemarnik. “This acquisition is a perfect culture fit and couldn’t have been a better match. As we’ve continued to get to know NSP, our respect and admiration have only grown. We are so excited about our future and the opportunities that lie ahead for our customers as we begin to work together.”

Northwest Specialty Produce’s leadership team will join Pacific Coast Fruit Co. at its Kent facility. That group includes Mark Adams, the former owner of Northwest Specialty Produce; his son Josh Adams; and Gary Blanken, senior retail manager.

Founded in 1977, Pacific Coast Fruit employs more than 500 people spanning between two facilities – a 90,000-square-foot distribution warehouse and Fresh Cut center in Portland, and an 83,000-square-foot distribution warehouse in Kent. The company purchased the large Kent warehouse in 2014 to replace a Kent facility it opened in 2009. Pacific Coast Fruit employs about 100 in Kent.

The company distributes fruit to retailers, wholesalers, processors, restaurants and more.

Last May, Pacific Coast Fruit received a $24.8 million contract from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help get food boxes to people in need in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.