Mastronardi Issues Statement Responding To Naturesweet Lawsuit

Mastronardi Produce Ltd. learned Tuesday that Naturesweet, Ltd. filed suit against Mastronardi claiming violation of patent and design issues. “Mastronardi is surprised that the action was commenced because Naturesweet has never complained or made any contact whatsoever to Mastronardi regarding any issues relating to the design and packaging of Mastronardi’s ANGEL SWEET brand grape tomatoes,” said Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO of Mastronardi.

Mastronardi Produce Ltd. has become aware that a lawsuit was commenced in the Northern District of Texas by a competitor, Naturesweet, Ltd against Mastronardi. This action was just filed and presently Mastronardi has not even been served with the formal complaint. Mastronardi representatives stated that while it has not yet read the claims in the lawsuit, it is quite surprised that, based on Naturesweet’s press release, Naturesweet would file what Mastronardi believes to be a completely baseless lawsuit – done for the improper purpose to impugn Mastronardi’s much anticipated launch of its ANGEL SWEET brand grape tomatoes.

“Naturesweet’s claims set forth in their press release are wrong on the facts and I am confident that Mastronardi will prevail in its defense of what is clearly an abusive action designed to frustrate the introduction of our ANGEL SWEET brand grape tomatoes. Naturesweet is a company that has been around the block for quite some time and in my opinion simply knows better than to resort to these types of improper tactics," commented Mr. Mastronardi. Mastronardi uses its own trademarks and its own packaging designs and works with its team of professional advisors in connection with the development, design and implementation of launching new products to market. There is no one who would mistake our packaging and design for that of Naturesweet. Mastronardi candidly notes it has yet to actually sell any product. Mastronardi’s application to register ANGEL SWEET with the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO) is pending and we are confident that a registration will eventually issue.

Mastronardi has various brands of tomatoes, including SUNSET, ONE SWEET, and CAMPARI which all remain among the most internationally acclaimed tomatoes in the marketplace. The overall response and enthusiasm surrounding Mastronardi’s ANGEL SWEET introduction has been exceptionally positive, so much, “That it’s looking like it will be a must have item in many stores, and it appears to me that our competitor is so concerned with our products that it has resorted to use unlawful efforts to prevent us from lawfully and rightfully competing in the marketplace,” commented Mr. Mastronardi in a press release.

Mastronardi’s new SUNSET-Grown ANGEL SWEET tomato is a grape tomato with exceptional flavor and sweetness. Packed in a dry pint format in a unique and exclusive shaker clamshell, Mastronardi looks forward to marketing its new brand to both grocery stores and the foodservice industry in various formats. Mastronardi expects the ANGEL SWEET brand could outpace what the CAMPARI tomato achieved when Mastronardi introduced the world to the CAMPARI phenomenon in 1995.

Source: Mastronardi Produce Ltd.