Fresh produce collective officially launches with trio of companies

Fresh produce collective TruSource, founded in early 2025, has officially launched. The organization currently includes three operating companies with more than 100 combined years of industry experience.

The trio of companies — Freshway Foods, Forestwood and Nickey Gregory — serve more than 4,000 customers through a 26-state distribution network which is continuing to expand, according to a news release.

“Fresh produce distribution has always been a relationship business,” TruSource founder, chair and CEO Elton Evans said in the release. “TruSource was built on the belief that scale creates value only when it strengthens the people, relationships and local service customers rely on every day.

“Our role is to preserve what makes strong regional distributors successful while adding the capabilities, resources and strategic support needed to compete and grow.”

Through TruSource, each operating company retains its name, employees and local presence while gaining access to shared resources, sourcing strength and operational support in a fresh produce marketplace requiring local agility and a more resilient supply chain, according to the release. 

“Customers need partners who can deliver consistency, reliability and responsiveness across an increasingly complex fresh produce marketplace,” TruSource chief commercial officer Kristie Waters said. “TruSource gives our operating companies the ability to stay close to their customers and markets while gaining the broader capabilities, resources and support needed to serve them even better. It also enables us to build long-term, sustainable supplier partnerships that strengthen our supply network and create value for both our customers and suppliers.”