News & Events | Contact Wholesale Retail Products About Locations About Our Roots Sanwa Growers Inc. was founded in 1981 by Tony Leung, a native of Hong Kong and a graduate of Guelph University in Ontario. After starting to farm and market produce in Canada, Tony came to Florida in 1980 to find winter growing areas for his specialty Asian produce. He stopped to visit a former professor in Ruskin . . . and stayed for 20 years! Tony began farming on 160 acres of leased land in south Hillsborough County in 1981. After traveling back and forth for a few years, he settled here. His wife Connie, also a Hong Kong native and Guelph graduate, joined him as CFO to the newly-formed Sanwa Growers Inc. Seedlings The company started as an agricultural concern, growing and harvesting Chinese cabbages and melons. In 1982, Sanwa had 5 full-time employees and 50 full-time employees in 1992. By 2001 Sanwa employed 180 full-time employees. At the end of 2002, Sanwa's employees numbered 230. Tony saw the wisdom of vertical integration, from both economic and marketing standpoints, and moved toward that goal steadily. Connie worked at obtaining sources for financing and negotiated rates and terms. The farm in Canada was still being operated by a partner, and much of the product from Florida was used to supply their Canadian customers during the winter months. As the farm acreage grew, the Leungs approached the chain stores with their product. By 1992, Sanwa had opened their own nursery to grow starter plants. As a way to keep employees busy year-round, herbs were grown to fill in the slow months. That product line eventually became a high-volume sales item. A fleet of delivery vehicles was built, assuring better control of temperatures through distribution, and therefore better quality product. A recently purchased packinghouse was doubled in size. Distribution centers were opened in Miami and Atlanta. Learn More About Us Sanwa Advantage Community Involvement Awards Sustainability Retail Wholesale News & Events Contact Careers Products About Locations Corporate Office: Sanwa Growers, Inc. PO BOX 11947, Tampa, FL 33680 Phone: (813) 642-5159 Copyright 2018 Sanwa Growers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy

News & Events | Contact Wholesale Retail Products About Locations Contact Us We appreciate your interest in Sanwa Food Group. To better assist you in finding the information you are looking for, please fill out the form below with your comments or questions. * denotes required field. Name * Company * Email * Phone * Interest * New Customer General Information Careers/HR Other Product of Interest Produce Meat Seafood Dairy Dry Groceries Frozen Foods Beverages Comments Privacy Policy Sanwa Food Group Corporate Office: Sanwa Growers, Inc. PO BOX 11947, Tampa, FL 33680 Phone: (813) 642-5159 Retail Wholesale News & Events Contact Careers Products About Locations Corporate Office: Sanwa Growers, Inc. PO BOX 11947, Tampa, FL 33680 Phone: (813) 642-5159 Copyright 2018 Sanwa Growers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy