What HMC Farms does

HMC Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned vertically integrated farming operation, established in 1887 and headquartered in Kingsburg, California. The company grows, packs, ships, and markets stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, plumcots) and table grapes from the San Joaquin Valley, operating additional packing, cold storage, and growing facilities at Reedley and Traver Ranch. Core operations are anchored by proprietary branded varieties (Plumsicle, Belcanto, Holiday) and value-added products (Grape Escape ready-to-eat grapes, Lunch Bunch portioned grapes, introduced 1979), with both conventional and USDA-certified organic production. Underlying technology includes high-density planting systems that accelerate orchard maturity by 2-3 years, optical grading machines, Burro autonomous harvest carts, and a pilot autonomous drone harvesting system developed with Tevel Aerobotics Technologies. The company is also a significant on-site solar power producer, generating more than 3 megawatts.

The business model is B2B sales-led, generating revenue through one-time fresh fruit sales and value-added processed products sold via a dedicated in-house sales team. Customers span grocery retailers (nationwide distribution), foodservice operators (schools, restaurants, airlines, hotels, amusement parks), and wholesale channels, with year-round supply supplemented through offshore sourcing partners in Chile and Peru. Food safety is maintained through PrimusGFS audits on packing and cold storage and GAP audits on ranches and harvest crews. HMC operates wholly owned subsidiaries covering marketing (HMC Marketing), cold storage (HMC Cold Storage, HMC Reedley), and value-added processing (HMC Fresh Foods), under the legal entity The HMC Group Marketing, Inc.

Forward positioning in 2026 reflects a strategy of geographic and technological diversification. In March 2026, HMC entered a strategic raw sugar supply agreement with Sucro Limited and began managing Sucro's first Louisiana cane farm — its first operational footprint outside California. In July 2026, it partnered with ag-tech nonprofit F3 Innovate to access supercomputing resources for AI-driven fleet management and irrigation optimization. Leadership is multigenerational (Harold McClarty, Jon McClarty, Sarah McClarty, Drew Ketelsen), with seats on the boards of the California Fresh Fruit Association, Western Growers, the California Table Grape Commission, and the UC Davis Foundation, giving the firm outsized influence over industry standards and policy.

Name

HMC Farms

Legal name

The HMC Group Marketing, Inc.

Website

https://hmcfarms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HMC Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned grower, packer, shipper, and marketer of California stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, plumcots) and table grapes, serving grocery retailers, foodservice operators, and wholesale buyers through vertically integrated farming, packing, and cold storage operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce (Stone Fruit and Table Grapes)

NAICS

Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113), Fruit and Tree Nut Combination Farming (111336)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Fruit & Tree Nut Farming (Orchards) (AFAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foodservice / HORECA Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAI)

Keywords

• Fresh stone fruit
• Table grapes
• Value-added grapes
• Vertically integrated farming
• Tree fruit production

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh Fruit Sales: HMC Farms generates revenue through the sale of fresh peaches, nectarines, plums, plumcots, and table grapes to retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice operators. The company operates packing houses and cold storage facilities for value-added processing including washed ready-to-eat grapes and portioned grape products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HMC Farms is a vertically integrated grower, packer, shipper, and marketer of fresh stone fruit and table grapes in California's Central San Joaquin Valley. The company produces peaches, nectarines, plums (including the proprietary Plumsicle and Holiday varieties), plumcots, and seedless table grapes (including the proprietary Belcanto variety), and sells these to grocery retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice operators. It also operates value-added lines producing washed ready-to-eat grapes (Grape Escape) and portioned grapes (Lunch Bunch), with both conventional and USDA-certified organic options.

Product overview

HMC Farms is a vertically integrated family farming operation established in 1887, growing and selling fruit directly to consumers and businesses. The company's product portfolio centers on stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, plumcots) and table grapes, with proprietary branded varieties like Plumsicle™ and Belcanto™ grapes. Value-added offerings include Grape Escape® (washed ready-to-eat grapes) and Lunch Bunch® (portion-controlled grapes). The company operates packing houses, cold storage facilities, and markets both conventional and USDA-certified organic fruit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plumsicle: Proprietary plum variety - firm, yet juicy, and bursting with flavor; oh so sweet and a summer favorite.
• Grape Escape
• Lunch Bunch
• Belcanto

Products and services

• Peaches Fresh peaches grown in California's Central Valley, available in yellow and white varieties and selected for flavor, timing, and fruitfulness. Sold to grocery retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice operators as bulk fresh fruit.
• Nectarines Fresh nectarines grown alongside HMC Farms' peaches, valued for smooth skin and a sweet flavor profile. Sold as bulk fresh fruit to retail, wholesale, and foodservice buyers.
• Plums Fresh plums including the proprietary Plumsicle and Holiday varieties, featuring speckled red and green exteriors and exceptional flavor. Sold as bulk fresh fruit after dedicated facility investment in 2001.
• Plumcots Hybrid fruit combining plum and apricot characteristics, grown as part of HMC Farms' stone fruit lineup and sold as fresh fruit to retail, wholesale, and foodservice buyers.
• Table Grapes Seedless table grapes including Flame red seedless, Ivory green seedless, Scarlet Royal, Krissy, Great Green, Timco, Allison, and the proprietary Belcanto green seedless variety, with year-round availability through domestic and offshore supply.
• Plumsicle Proprietary plum variety that is firm yet juicy and bursting with sweet flavor, with a distinctive speckled exterior and deep red interior. A trademarked product exclusive to HMC Farms, available mid-June through late August.
• Holiday Plum Proprietary late-season plum variety with a distinctive speckled red and green exterior, registered as a brand identity and exclusive to HMC Farms.
• Belcanto Grapes Proprietary green seedless table grape variety known for exceptionally sweet flavor, crisp texture, and petite berry size. Registered as a brand identity and available for a limited window each summer.
• Grape Escape Fresh grapes removed from the stem and washed only with water to preserve fresh grape flavor, ready-to-eat for retail deli, foodservice, and restaurant applications.
• Lunch Bunch Original portioned grape product, exclusively available from HMC Farms since 1979, providing convenient ready-to-serve portions for foodservice, schools, and retail.
• USDA Certified Organic Fruit USDA-certified organic versions of HMC Farms' stone fruit and table grapes, grown with the same care and attention as conventional fruit and requiring three years of organic farming before certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches full tree production potential 2-3 years sooner with high-density planting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• F3 Innovate (F3I)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Ag-tech nonprofit that launched a supercomputer at California State University, Fresno. Drew Ketelson, VP of HMC Farms and F3I board member, is using the supercomputer to optimize fleet management and irrigation decisions. The technology taps into UC San Diego's supercomputing resources to help farmers use AI tools for agricultural operations.
• Sucro LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2026Strategic raw sugar supply agreement with HMC Farms LLC, one of Louisiana's largest cane growers, to support operations at Sucro's new refinery in University Park, Illinois. As part of the partnership, Sucro purchased its first cane farm in Louisiana, which will be managed by HMC Farms, reflecting long-term commitment to supporting U.S. cane growers and domestic refining capacity.
• Reedley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMC Farms donated over $1 million to found the Reedley College Center for Performing Arts. Partnership includes the 'Merced Promise' program to expand opportunities for students to transition from community college to UC Merced.
• UC DaviscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship with UC Davis spanning many years. HMC Farms hosts professors for educational visits and maintains open dialogue with university researchers conducting studies pertaining to their agricultural segment.
• Western GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMC Farms holds board positions at Western Growers and participated in developing the Western Growers Women program. Partnership includes hosting Careers in Ag students from Western Growers member schools.
• California Fresh Fruit AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMC Farms holds board positions at the California Fresh Fruit Association. Leadership team members participate in industry events and educational initiatives.
• California Table Grape CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMC Farms holds board positions at the California Table Grape Commission representing the table grape industry.
• California Association of Food Banks / Farm to Family ProgramcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing relationship donating over 10 million pounds of fruit annually to reduce waste and help feed hungry families. HMC holds group volunteer opportunities for employees to sort and box food.
• The Produce MomsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership spanning nearly 4 years, collaborating on e-books, STEM activity sheets, recipes, and educational content for children about fresh produce.
• Central California Food BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHMC Farms employees volunteer at the food bank, creating food boxes for distribution. The food bank serves more than 280,000 people monthly across five counties.
• California Farmworker FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for COVID-19 vaccination clinics that distributed vaccines to more than 450 agricultural workers in the Central Valley.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Trellis Fruit: California-based grower, packer, and shipper of table grapes, stone fruit, and citrus with year-round supply through offshore programs. Comparable product mix, with a more developed import counter-seasonal strategy.
• Fowler Packing: Family-owned Central Valley grower, packer, and shipper of table grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. Highly comparable in product mix, regional footprint, family ownership, and vertically integrated operating model.
• Sun-Maid Growers of California: Iconic California cooperative grower and marketer of table grapes with branded consumer products. Closely comparable in core product (table grapes), vertical integration, and branded marketing model.
• Family Tree Farms: Multi-generation California grower specializing in stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines) and table grapes, with proprietary branded varieties and direct retail relationships. Direct overlap with HMC's stone fruit and grape business.
• Trinity Fruit Company: Sales and marketing company representing California and imported fresh fruit growers including table grapes and tree fruit. Comparable as a go-to-market and packer partner for similar growers.
• Sunview Vineyards: Family-owned California table grape grower with branded marketing and retail relationships. Comparable in product focus on table grapes, family ownership structure, and California growing geography.
• Gerawan Farming: Large California Central Valley grower of stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines) and table grapes. Comparable as a vertically integrated family-scale grower in the same geography and product categories.

Broad incumbents

• The Wonderful Company: Large vertically integrated grower/packer of table grapes (Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, Paramount Farms), stone fruit, and citrus in California's Central Valley. Directly comparable product mix and geography, but at meaningfully larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Fresh Del Monte Produce: Global vertically integrated producer, packer, and distributor of fresh produce including grapes and other fruits. Broad incumbent with similar product categories but vastly larger scale and global footprint.

Emerging players

• Taylor Farms: California-based fresh produce processor and value-added supplier (salads, vegetables, fruit packs) serving retail and foodservice. Comparable in the value-added fresh produce and foodservice distribution channels HMC serves via HMC Fresh Foods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hmcfarms
• Pinterestpinterest.com/hmcfarms
• Xx.com/hmcfarms

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HMC Farms