About Us

Highland Fresh was established in 2005 when owner, Steve Maxwell realized growers and packers needed help addressing the increasing complexity of quality and food safety challenges impacting their business. Steve called on Frank Kelsey, who was then working as Western Colorado Research Manager with Colorado State University. Frank had over a decade of experience in the produce industry developing products for the postharvest market, which included 2 patents, and numerous publications on produce shelf life and food safety. Frank brought on Walt Shappley, a Navy veteran with extensive operational and logistics experience in the produce industry, and together they introduced novel cleaning and sanitation solutions for both packing lines and produce. Now, the growing team draws on its expertise in plant physiology, plant pathology, food microbiology, operations, logistics, and process automation, providing products and support that deliver results for growers throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.