Pinnacle Purchases California-Based Specialty Crops Retailer

Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings has successfully acquired California-based NH3 Service Co.  Operating as part of Pinnacle’s Performance Agriculture brand, the new locations will be full-service agricultural input retailers providing sustainable crop protection products, crop nutrition, and precision agriculture services.

NH3 Service Co. was founded in 1938 by Ralph Iliff, who was later joined by his son-in-law, Bill Lipe, and his two sons, Bob and Jim Iliff.  Ralph’s grandson, James W. Lipe, Sr., subsequently joined the family business, establishing the third generation of NH3 Service Co. In 2007, James W. “Jim” Lipe, Jr. and William O. “Bill” Lipe purchased NH3 Service Co. and drove the growth of the fourth generation. Specializing in fresh fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, spinach, kale, Brussel sprouts, artichokes, onions, strawberries, cane berries, and wine grapes, NH3 Service Co. will continue to operate from a local level with the support of a national platform.

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Performance Agriculture’s newest locations will remain at 945 Johnson Avenue, Salinas, CA, 93901, with two Salinas satellite operations located at 1110 Harkins Road and 21915 Rosehart Way. Three additional locations will remain at 41933 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA, 93927; 2790 Buena Vista Road, Hollister, CA, 95023; and 2626 E. 14th Street, Yuma, AZ, 85365. All locations will remain under the direction of Jim Lipe, former President and CEO of NH3 Service Co., and all employees at each of NH3 Service Co.’s locations will retain their current positions under the new ownership.

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“We are truly excited to be a part of Performance Agriculture. Our customers, employees, and suppliers are very important to us, so we naturally wanted to ensure that they continue to experience the same level of service and integrity upon which NH3 Service Co. was built,” said Jim Lipe. “My brother, Bill, and I would like to thank our customers and employees for allowing us to carry on our father’s legacy. We know he would truly be proud. Performance Agriculture is a perfect fit, and this union will enhance the selection and availability of products and innovative solutions that we bring to our customers for successful crop production. The Salinas Valley enjoys year-round farming with the most dynamic and diverse crops. We are proud to align with a team that is committed to grower success and helping ensure the most return on growers’ investments throughout the year.”

“The Salinas Valley continues to be one of the top fresh vegetable producing areas in the world, and we are delighted with the opportunity to build lasting partnerships with area growers,” said Jason White, President of Performance Agriculture. “We are confident that the growers NH3 Service Company has served so well will experience a seamless transition and will continue to receive the excellent service and product offerings they have come to know over the past 77 years.”

NH3 Service Co. marks Pinnacle’s eighth acquisition in 2015.

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