As a family business, we understand the importance of good customer and grower relationships to provide the best possible service to both. To us fresh quality is not an option. It’s a demand. Our sustainable growing and packaging culture run way deeper than the plants roots from where our produce is grown. Family, fresh, innovation — this trio ensures we always deliver the freshest produce, responsibly grown and sourced, from farm to store.
Jacob was raised in the town of Groningen, The Netherlands. Jacob started a wholesale fruit business in his hometown in 1905, where he bought and sold mainly local Dutch fruits such as apples and pears. He was known to gather all his customers in the street outside his business — where he lived upstairs — and would “auction off” his fruit wares to the highest bidder.
As the founder of our family business, we have taken his name for our company.
Jacob Vandenberg starts a wholesale fruit business in his hometown of Groningen, the Netherlands, where he buys and sells mainly local Dutch fruits such as apples and pears.
The company and Vandenberg family move to Rotterdam, the then-rising fruit and commercial center of the Netherlands (and later, Europe). After World War II, the Jacob van den Berg Company became a founding member of the “Rotterdam Citrus Exchange”, a fruit auction formed by the eight largest fresh fruit importers of the time.
Jacob van den Berg and his son, Heiman, open the New York office. The company name is changed to Jac. Vandenberg. The new office is located first on Franklin, and later Hudson Streets in downtown New York City near the Washington Street Market and longstanding New York Fruit Auction. The company becomes involved in both purchases and sales of product via the Fruit Auction.
Jac. Vandenberg begins importing fresh fruit from Chile. Heiman Vandenberg meets David Del Curto, a Chilean fruit grower. Del Curto was seeking an importer to sell and distribute his grapes, peaches, nectarines, plums and apples in the United States and so began one of the most significant and enduring relationships in the U.S. – Chilean fruit trade. The historic relationship between these two pioneering fruit companies still continues today.
Further expansion of exports of U.S. products such as pears, apples and citrus to more countries around the world - including significant volumes to countries that range from Brazil to Japan to Iceland! Yearly increases in import volumes mainly from Chile, as the growing and export business from that country rapidly continues to develop.
The Company successfully implements its strategy of revitalizing its customer base from largely traditional wholesale markets to the rapidly-growing U.S. retail and supermarket industry. By the middle of the decade, the vast majority of Vandenberg customers are leading North American retailers. On the import side, Argentina is added as a reliable and important source of fresh pears and apples.
Jac. Vandenberg opens a seasonal office in Nogales, Arizona and from there begins marketing premium table grapes from Mexico.
In the effort to better service its existing customers as well as to further diversify and expand its customer base, Jac. Vandenberg opens a permanent office in Los Angeles to import and distribute produce on the West Coast of the U.S.
To meet changing consumer and retail demand, Jac. Vandenberg begins to focus resources on sourcing increasing quantities of product that is grown organically as well as products certified by independent third parties as having been grown using environmentally-friendly and sustainable methods. Each subsequent season sees growth in both categories as an increasing part of the company's overall import volume.
Jac. Vandenberg becomes a member of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a program that partners Jac. Vandenberg with the United States Customs and Border Protection to contribute towards a more secure trading environment. As part of the program benefits, Jac. Vandenberg receives reduced examinations and expedited clearance of its cargo.
Jac. Vandenberg begins marketing premium citrus from Uruguay as well as conventional and organic lemons from Mexico.
Jac. Vandenberg launches its SUNRAYS brand for mandarin oranges. The SUNRAYS brand becomes the fresh produce industry's first giveback brand, partnering with Save the Children by making a donation to the charity's mission for every SUNRAYS package packed.
Jac. Vandenberg introduces, in partnership with VPZ, the first home compostable netting for citrus in the US market.
Jac. Vandenberg expands the SUNRAYS brand into table grapes.
Jac. Vandenberg introduces, in partnership with TIPA, the first home compostable bags for grapes in the US market.
