Tom Burfield

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The historical Maryland’s Best Expo, now in its 18th year, will once again give buyers from supermarkets, schools, foodservice operations and food distributors a chance to mingle with farmers and other food producers.
Things may have gotten off to a slow start in some areas, but it appears business will be booming during late summer and fall for Michigan produce suppliers.
Produce suppliers in Michigan and throughout the industry are struggling to cope with ever-increasing freight costs.
Like other produce suppliers, Boston companies have felt the impact of inflation. Freight costs to Boston from California are up 20% to 25%, said Steven Piazza, managing partner at Community-Suffolk Inc.
Sales are on the rise and fob prices on many items remain strong as Twin Cities-area produce suppliers prepare for what looks to be a promising fall-winter season.
St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwestern Fruit Co. Inc. will kick off the fall with an extensive assortment of products, including local and homegrown zucchini, yellow squash, corn, green beans and peppers.
Organic produce trade organizations seem optimistic about the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden and his appointment of Tom Vilsack as secretary of agriculture.
Organic vegetables are hot commodities in supermarket produce departments, and celery, in particular, seems to be a current trendsetter.
From grapes to grapefruit, sales of organic fruit are on the rise, and suppliers anticipate ample volume of good-quality product for the late spring and summer months.
Organic produce sales may be no longer be escalating at a double-digit rate, but retailers, foodservice operators and grower-shippers say movement continues to trend upward.