What DNO Produce does

DNO Produce is a fourth-generation, family-owned fresh-cut produce distributor headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, operating across two integrated business lines: wholesale produce distribution and a K-12 school-focused fresh-cut solutions brand called FRESHEALTH. The wholesale business sources from hundreds of produce partners globally and supplies fruits and vegetables to foodservice operators and retailers, supported by 65,000 sq ft of cold storage and an owned logistics fleet operating 24/7. The FRESHEALTH line delivers pre-cut, pre-washed produce in kid-friendly cuts (crinkle-cut, slices, dice, wedges, tidbits) for school districts participating in USDA federal nutrition programs, including the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, CACFP, SFSP, and Seamless Summer Option, with DNO also serving as a federal contractor for the USDA DoD Fresh Program across sixteen states.

The company's underlying capability stack combines value-added fresh-cut processing, cold-chain logistics, and a PrimusGFS-certified food safety program that includes GMP, Food Defense, Recall, Environmental Monitoring, and supplier digital documentation through the iFoodDS platform. A notable product extension is High Rise Broccoli Stem Chips, an upcycled fresh-cut snack developed with Bayer Seminis Vegetable Science that converts discarded broccoli stems into FFVP-eligible portions; FRESHEALTH is also transitioning its single-serve school packaging to biodegradable film and compostable cups in partnership with Eco-Products (Fall 2025), eliminating over 945,000 lbs of traditional plastic annually. The company bundles its produce with a content-and-education layer — 100+ produce posters, monthly FFVP calendars, and the SnackTime Explorers food education program co-developed with nonprofit Pilot Light — that is embedded into classroom nutrition activities and binds the brand to K-12 food service directors.

DNO's revenue model is a mix of transaction-based wholesale produce distribution and recurring subscription-like revenue from USDA federal nutrition program contracts, with a quote-based B2B pricing structure tailored to school district volumes. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales (with a new VP Sales & Marketing hired in September 2025 to drive regional and national expansion) supplemented by federal contracting and community partnerships with organizations such as Children's Hunger Alliance and Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Leadership is concentrated within the DiNovo family, with Alex DiNovo serving as President, recent leadership additions include VP Supply Chain (Nick Middleton), Director of Food Safety (Deadra Holloway), and VP Brand & People (Marissa Dake), reflecting an organization scaling its commercial and operational functions in parallel.

Name

DNO Produce

Legal name

DNO Produce

Website

https://dnoinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DNO Produce is a fourth-generation, family-owned fresh-cut produce distributor in Columbus, Ohio that supplies pre-cut produce to K-12 schools across sixteen states through USDA federal nutrition programs, and wholesale produce to foodservice operators, supported by 65,000 sq ft of cold storage and an owned logistics fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh-cut produce distribution

NAICS

Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh-Cut & Value-Added Produce (Washed, Peeled, Sliced, Packaged) (AFAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Cut / Value-Added Produce Wholesale (Pre-Cut, Packaged, Salad Kits) (AFAIACAD), Fresh Produce Distribution (CRAOABAB), Fresh Produce Packaging (IMALAHAE)

Keywords

• Fresh-cut produce distribution
• School nutrition programs
• Wholesale produce supply
• Cold chain logistics
• Fresh produce processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Fresh Produce Distribution: DNO sources and distributes wholesale fruits and vegetables from hundreds of produce partners globally, providing all wholesale needs for buyers. The company has over 65,000 sq ft of cold storage and its own fleet of trucks for distribution.
2. FRESHEALTH Fresh-Cut Produce Solutions: Value-added fresh-cut produce solutions offering a variety of cuts, pack sizes, and items for schools and foodservice. Products are washed, prepped, and available in kid-friendly styles. This is the company's primary growth engine targeting the K-12 school market through USDA nutrition programs.
3. USDA Federal Nutrition Program Contracts: As a federal contractor for the USDA DoD Fresh Program and provider for multiple USDA nutrition programs (National School Lunch Program, National School Breakfast Program, FFVP, CACFP, Seamless Summer Option), DNO generates recurring revenue through government food service contracts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DNO Produce is a fresh-cut produce processor and distributor that sources fruits and vegetables from hundreds of global partners, processes them into kid-friendly fresh-cut formats, and distributes them through an owned cold-chain logistics network. The company is a federal contractor for the USDA DoD Fresh Program and supplies K-12 schools across 16 states via its FRESHEALTH sub-brand for programs including FFVP, NSLP, NSBP, CACFP, SFSP, and SSO. It additionally serves foodservice operators, restaurants, and retailers through wholesale distribution, and provides standalone cold storage and logistics services.

Product overview

DNO Produce is a fresh-cut produce distributor specializing in school nutrition, offering a portfolio of products and services including: FRESHEALTH (fresh-cut produce sub-brand for schools), Wholesale Produce distribution, High Rise Broccoli Stems (upcycled broccoli chip snacks), SnackTime Explorers (food education program), FFVP Resource Hub (educational materials), and Logistics and Warehousing services. The company operates over 65,000 sq feet of cold storage and serves school districts across sixteen states as well as federal contractor for USDA DoD Fresh Program. The FRESHEALTH school line is transitioning from traditional plastic packaging to biodegradable and compostable materials in Fall 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FRESHEALTH: Fresh-cut produce solutions brand for schools, providing individually packaged produce and educational materials for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
• SnackTime Explorers
• High Rise Broccoli Stem Chips

Products and services

• FRESHEALTH Fresh-Cut Solutions Sub-brand offering pre-cut, pre-washed fresh fruits and vegetables in kid-friendly formats (crinkle-cut, dice, slice, wedge, tidbit) for K-12 schools participating in USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), National School Breakfast Program (NSBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Includes individually packaged single-serve snacks and bulk pack sizes tailored to school food service operations, with 90+ fresh produce offerings across 16 states.
• Wholesale Produce Distribution Wholesale supply of fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from hundreds of produce partners globally to commercial foodservice operators, restaurants, and retailers. Provides core and specialty produce items in flexible pack sizes with dependable delivery through DNO's owned fleet and cold storage network.
• High Rise Broccoli Stem Chips Upcycled ready-to-eat snack made from the stems of High Rise Broccoli (a Bayer Seminis variety with taller, more uniform stems). Packaged in 2 oz USDA-credited portions for K-12 school nutrition programs, offering a kid-friendly crunchy alternative that reduces food waste at harvest.
• Logistics and Warehousing Services Cold storage and distribution services providing over 65,000 sq ft of cold storage space, a fleet of trucks, and a skilled logistics and warehouse team operating 24/7 to support both wholesale and FRESHEALTH operations from field to fork.
• School Solutions Pre-cut fruits and vegetables tailored for K-12 schools participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and other federal nutrition programs. Products are washed, prepped, and available in kid-friendly styles including jicama sticks, kiwi halves, and crinkle-cut cucumber slices, reducing school food prep labor and supporting nutrition program compliance.
• Summer Food Service Program Produce Produce solutions for summer feeding programs under the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), including Whole Produce Bags (3 lb mixed fruit), Community Care Boxes (mixed pack with nine servings), Bulk Fresh Produce Trays, and Individually Packaged Produce for weekend and non-congregate meal service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminated over 945,000 pounds of traditional plastic annually from operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eco-ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Eco-Products collaborated with DNO Produce on the transition of FRESHEALTH school offerings from traditional plastic bags to biodegradable film packaging. This partnership enables the elimination of over 945,000 pounds of traditional plastic annually from DNO's school product line, with Eco-Products providing the sustainable packaging solution.
• Three Creeks ProduceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016A woman-owned, first-generation organic farm established in 2016 in Groveport, Ohio by Kendyl and Andy. Grows diverse organic vegetables without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, supplies local restaurants (Brassica, Northstar), and partners with DNO for Ohio CAN program and local food pantry collaborations.
• Twin Oaks Dairy FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in South Solon, Ohio, Twin Oaks Dairy Farm (2,400 cows) partners with DNO Produce to turn produce scraps (pineapple peels, watermelon rinds, and other produce waste) into nutrient-rich feed for their cattle — a circular economy partnership that reduces DNO's food waste while providing the farm with sustainable feed sources.
• New Century CSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Century CSA, a cornerstone of central Ohio's agricultural community originally established as a grain farm two generations ago, transitioned to growing produce in 1999. It has become a cherished source of fresh vegetables for local families and businesses, and partners with DNO for local produce sourcing.
• Guided By MushroomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn urban mushroom farm near Dayton, Ohio, that began as a hobby in 2018 and grew into a thriving worker-owned business by 2020. Supplies gourmet and functional mushrooms (Lions Mane, King Blue Oyster) to restaurants in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, and is a local sourcing partner for DNO Produce.
• Bayer Seminis Vegetable SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayer Seminis Vegetable Science developed the High Rise Broccoli variety — a breakthrough variety with taller, more uniform stems that allows broccoli stems to be recycled into new products. DNO Produce processes these stems into High Rise Broccoli Stem Chips, a kid-friendly crunchy snack reducing food waste at harvest. Jenny Maloney, Director of Industry Relations for Bayer Vegetable Seeds, has also been appointed to the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee alongside Alex DiNovo.
• Pilot LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot Light is a nonprofit organization that co-developed the SnackTime Explorers program with DNO Produce's sister company FRESHEALTH. The program aligns with Food Education Standards and delivers food education activities to FFVP-eligible school classrooms alongside DNO's weekly produce deliveries.
• Children's Hunger AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChildren's Hunger Alliance is a nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in Ohio. DNO Produce partners with the organization to support summer meal service programs, providing fresh produce for non-congregate feeding programs that reach children from families with limited food access.
• Mid-Ohio Food CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDNO Produce partners with Mid-Ohio Food Collective for its annual Fresh Cut Food Drive, now in its 10th year, to support community hunger relief efforts in Central Ohio through donations of fresh-cut produce.
• USDA (Various Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNO Produce participates in multiple USDA nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program, National School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and serves as a federal contractor for the USDA DoD Fresh Program.
• Michigan Summer Harvest Program (Local Michigan Farmers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNO Produce partners with local Michigan farmers each year to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables for students as part of its summer feeding program offerings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ben E. Keith Foods: Regional broadline foodservice distributor with strong fresh produce and fresh-cut programs serving schools and foodservice across the South and Midwest. Overlaps DNO in school nutrition procurement.
• Gordon Food Service: Family-owned broadline foodservice distributor with significant fresh produce presence in schools, healthcare, and restaurants. Comparable broadline-plus-fresh model with strong regional density in markets overlapping DNO.
• US Foods: Major U.S. broadline foodservice distributor with growing fresh-cut and produce capabilities serving K-12 and institutional customers. Competes with DNO across school nutrition and foodservice channels.
• Sysco: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor, operating FreshPoint as its fresh-produce specialty arm. Competes with DNO in school foodservice via its national logistics and broad SKU portfolio.

Direct peers

• FreshPoint: Sysco-owned specialty fresh produce distributor serving restaurants, schools, and foodservice operators across the U.S. Directly comparable to DNO's fresh-cut wholesale and school segment, with national reach versus DNO's regional Midwest footprint.
• Taylor Farms: Largest fresh-cut produce manufacturer in North America, producing packaged salads, fresh-cut vegetables, and value-added produce for retail and foodservice including K-12. Direct competitor to DNO/FRESHEALTH on fresh-cut processing capability and scale.
• Eat Smart Fresh: Fresh-cut vegetable and salad producer (Eat Smart brand) serving retail and foodservice with packaged produce. Comparable fresh-cut processing and packaged-produce offering overlapping DNO's FRESHEALTH line.
• Mann's Fresh Produce: Fresh-cut vegetable specialist (broccoli slaw, vegetable trays, snacking veggies) serving retail and foodservice including schools. Direct competitor on fresh-cut value-added produce packaged for kid consumption.
• Produce Alliance: Group purchasing organization for K-12 and foodservice produce with member distributors across multiple regions. Direct peer in the school produce channel with a different GPO-led go-to-market model.

Others

• Chartwells School Dining Services: K-12 school foodservice management company (Compass Group) that purchases fresh-cut produce from suppliers like DNO. Customer/ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor, but influences the buyer landscape DNO sells into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DNOProduceOH

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 DNO Produce