Key Takeaways:
- PHT Investment Group has launched the PHT Growth Fund LP to invest in and acquire temperature-controlled food supply chain assets.
- The fund aims to revolutionize post-harvest infrastructure, addressing the global issue of food waste and inefficiencies in the supply chain.
- The initiative will focus on improving cold storage, logistics, and technology to enhance food shelf life, reduce waste, and increase profitability for stakeholders.
- PHT Growth Fund is positioned as a unique investment platform dedicated to innovating the underfunded post-harvest sector.
Strategic Launch of PHT Growth Fund
PHT Investment Group announced the launch of its new fund, PHT Growth Fund LP, as a strategic initiative to transform the post-harvest infrastructure sector. This fund will focus on making strategic acquisitions and investments in temperature-controlled food supply chains, aiming to support the efficient movement of fresh produce from field to table.
“The post-harvest infrastructure sector is long overdue for improvement; right now, globally, over a trillion dollars of food goes to waste each year,” said Jim White, PhD, Founder and CEO of PHT Investment Group LLC. “Our new fund will dramatically reduce that wastage through the changes we are making in the industry.”
Addressing the Global Food Waste Crisis
White highlighted the urgent need for innovation in the fresh produce supply chain, noting that outdated infrastructure contributes significantly to global food waste. “Right now, one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost due to spoilage, mainly because of outdated infrastructure and improper handling after harvest,” he explained. The PHT Growth Fund aims to tackle this issue by investing in pre-cooling, cold storage, infrastructure, logistics, and technology.
By enhancing these areas, the fund seeks to maximize the nutritional value and shelf life of fresh produce, ultimately reducing waste and increasing profitability for growers and investors. White emphasized, “Investing in a carefully selected portfolio of cold storage infrastructure assets and mission-critical logistics will increase productivity, increase shelf life, increase the nutritional value of fresh produce, and reduce waste.”
A Legacy of Expertise and Innovation
PHT Investment Group traces its roots back to 1936 with the establishment of Growers Ice Company in Salinas, California. The company has long been at the forefront of fresh produce pre-cooling and cold storage, making it well-positioned to lead innovation in the post-harvest infrastructure sector.
White acknowledged the challenges facing the industry, including outdated infrastructure and slow-moving government support. However, he remains optimistic about the potential for the PHT Growth Fund to drive significant change. “We are at a crossroads, politically, economically, and socially,” White noted, adding that with visionary thinking, the fund could address pressing industry issues while creating positive global impact.
Vision for Sustainable Growth
White, a Vietnam Army combat veteran and philanthropist, is committed to the social impact of his investment strategy. He believes that by improving the safety, speed, and cost-effectiveness of getting products to consumers, the fund can contribute to significant global change. “When we ask, ‘Can a company be lucrative and do enormous good in the world?’ our answer is a resounding yes,” White concluded. “Our mission is to deliver predictable, sustainable long-term value for our investors and stakeholders, with careful attention to sustainability and to serving the communities in which we operate.”
