28 May 2010 --- Calavo Growers, Inc., the global leader in avocado marketing and an expanding provider of other fresh perishable products, announced it has entered into a long-term agreement with Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation as Calavo’s primary vendor for corrugated materials in North America and Hawaii.

The most significant factors in the decision for transitioning to Smurfit-Stone are having access to the elite design and strength of the proprietary Meta Tray-8 for Calavo’s avocado packaging programs including ProRipeVIP, display boxes for bagged avocados; a superior package for downstream ripening, less linerboard usage creating efficiencies and a significant reduction in carbon footprint. Smurfit-Stone is the only North American packaging company that produces the Meta Tray-8 cases.

Calavo’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Lee E. Cole, commented: “Ripening places inherent stress on corrugated packaging. The Meta Tray-8 design has proven to be stronger than anything we’ve seen on the market, protecting the product during ripening and downstream during transportation and handling.

“To have the strength, economic benefits and carbon footprint reduction provides multiple benefits to Calavo customers, producers and the environment, particularly with double-digit growth in ProRipeVIP the last three years.”

Dwight Morris, western region vice president for Smurfit-Stone’s Corrugated Container division, stated: “We are particularly proud of our design of the Meta Tray-8 and saw a perfect fit for avocados and other fresh products that are ripened after packing. Calavo was an obvious first choice to pursue in the fresh avocado business, and we are delighted at the opportunity to provide equipment and packaging for avocados and several other product lines.”

Smurfit-Stone will provide turnkey installation of new case-forming equipment manufactured at its Automated Packaging Systems facility in Orlando, Fla., to all Calavo-operated locations in North America beginning Spring 2010.