In 1886 Edwin Calvin Adams, the oldest of thirteen children, left the family farm in Lafayette, Alabama and moved to Atlanta, Georgia.  There he went to work for M.E. Wincoffe, a wholesale distributor of fruits and vegetables.  In 1890 he was sent to Birmingham, Alabama to open a branch operation for Mr. Wincoffe.  The business prospered in the fledgling steel town, and in 1897 he bought Wincoffe out and formed E.C. Adams & Co., which he incorporated in 1903.  As the business grew, Edwin saw the need for additional help, and turned to the other Adams children back in Lafayette to help him.  The first to join Edwin was the next oldest brother, Carl.  Carl quickly became close friends with the Hill brothers, Nelson and James, another pair of brothers succeeding in the Southeast.  The Hill brothers founded Hill Grocery Co., which grew to more than 40 stores and was the backbone of Adams’ early business.  Other Adams brothers quickly followed into the business, and in 1936, the company was renamed Adams Brothers Produce Co., Inc.

Today “Adams Produce Company” is the preeminent produce specialist in the Southeastern United States.  Part of the growth was a dramatic change in the business model, transitioning Adams from predominately a wholesaler to a foodservice specialist.  Also with the model change, a major deployment of company resources were directed into the areas of food safety, technology and the joining of PRO*ACT to compliment procurement and logistics efforts.  This direction shift allowed Adams the opportunity to bring onboard a group of talented entrepreneurs and industry experts to compliment the existing team.

The Adams distribution network of multiple distribution centers strategically located throughout the region, now supply fresh fruits and vegetables in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.  By understanding and exceeding the expectations of our customers, and recognizing the uniqueness of our marketplace and the ever-changing demands of the produce industry, the Team at Adams strives to uphold the tradition of excellence in service, quality and food safety and set the course for the next 100-years for the Company.