ABOUT US
The AvoTerra Advantage
Peel away our top layer and what will you find?
The values at the core of our business.
Quality. You’ll find it in our avocado experts who walk the groves in California, Mexico and Chile. In the service provided by our employees who are always there to answer your questions. In the way we foster direct communication and an exchange of ideas between growers, exporters and retailers. And in the relationships we’ve built for over 20 years with the largest, most stable packers in Mexico and Chile. This commitment to quality — in every aspect of our business — is carried off the tree daily and into the produce section year round.
Innovation. AvoTerra is dedicated to staying ahead of industry trends by constantly monitoring market conditions and harvest rates. Our packing facility offers the latest technology to deliver product to market efficiently. We have nationwide ripening programs to precondition fruit to buyers’ specifications at a lower cost than many of our competitors. And we also offer marketing programs to assist with yearly planning including volume incentives, promotional support, coordination with industry programs, demo programs, and special pricing and packaging.
Consistency. For buyers, consistency is critical. Which is why we work directly with our customers, listening to their particular needs, and then designing tailored, comprehensive programs just for them. We have one label, regardless of country, that means quality fruit year round. We believe whether you’re a grower or a buyer, if you work with us once, you won’t have to think twice about it. At AvoTerra, we have one goal: to be the most dependable avocado provider in the land.
It’s not just avocados, it’s the AvoTerra Advantage.
100 YEARS OF PACKING AND MARKETING HISTORY
Our Philosophy
We believe in taking a “hands on” approach to every aspect of our business. We place value on honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned common sense. We believe a handshake is as good as a dotted line – or even better because it shows exactly the type of people you’re dealing with. We believe that consistency and reliability aren’t merely important, they’re required. And we believe in keeping promises when it comes to delivering results to our growers and trading partners. Because when our label’s on it, you can trust you’ve picked the best.
Planting the Seeds: Our Beginnings
Index Fresh planted our roots in Southern California nearly 100 years ago and have been growing our business ever since. We started in citrus — lemons and oranges to be exact — and were among the first grower-owned distributors in Orange County. Back in 1914, you’d have found us operating under the name Index Orchards. Business boomed and 15 years later, we formed a cooperative with other growers and renamed ourselves the Index Mutual Association.
A New Harvest: The Introduction and Impact of Avocados
By 1950, we acquired our sister cooperative, the United Growers Association, and decided to branch out and try our hand at avocado distribution. Avocados quickly replaced our production of lemons and oranges during the ‘60s and ‘70s. As much as we loved the La Habra Valley, the wheels of progress kept turning and our headquarters moved to the town of Bloomington in San Bernardino County. Those familiar with this business know that getting an avocado productively and efficiently to the produce section requires the proper equipment. That’s why in 1989 we designed and built a certified, state-of-the-art packing and cooling facility.
Growth Cycle: Expansion and Evolution
Throughout the early ‘90s, the popularity of avocados increased and consumers demanded them year-round. We expanded our product line to include Chilean avocados and changed our name again to Fresh of California. In 1999, we decided it was high time to return to our roots. We converted our business from a cooperative back to a grower-owned distributor and decided to simply call ourselves Index Fresh, Inc.
The Fruits of Our Labor: Welcome To The AvoTerra Era
Index Fresh has been thriving in Southern California for nearly a century. In that time, we’ve learned a thing or two about the avocado trade and the most important is never stop growing. Now, we’re proud to introduce an entirely new approach: AvoTerra. An innovative choice for avocado packing and distribution, AvoTerra creates tailored programs that deliver avocados year round, with reliable, bottom line results. Consider it yet another branch in the Index Fresh tree.