Know Your Market
The new coronavirus COVID-19 hasn’t changed one reality: Publix has an iron grip on Florida grocery sales.
Leaves may be falling, but autumn sales for Twin Cities distributors certainly aren’t.
One company has a new CEO who will guide it through its future strategy and expansion plans, another is promoting attractively priced easy-peel soft citrus, and a banana distributor is expanding its U.S. reach.
Excessive rainfall hurt some of the fall corn, squash and cucumber crops in Connecticut but doesn’t seem to have had much of an impact on apples.
Chicago-area produce distributors were thankful for a strong Thanksgiving holiday period and anticipate more of the same for Christmas and New Year’s.
Business remains brisk in the St. Louis market as produce distributors tweak their product lines to add traditional fall items.
NEW YORK — Hunts Point Produce Market has needed modernizing — a serious, comprehensive update to its infrastructure — for at least 50 years.
Competition from Canada and local sources means business can be a bit lighter during the summer. Nonetheless, spring and early summer this year “have been very, very busy and very productive,” said one executive.
Supplies of a few local products could be a bit tight this summer, but for the most part, Colorado distributors will have plenty of good-quality fruits and vegetables to sell.
Alpine Summit Sales will have an extensive line of fruits and vegetables this summer, sourcing from varied growing areas including Colorado, California and Mexico.
Big Sky Trading is expanding its organic offerings, said J.T. Pickett, general operations manager and organic produce buyer.
A year ago, Colo-Pac Produce completed a major cooler expansion that greatly increased its cold storage capacity.
A produce box program for consumers that Denver-based 5280 Produce launched about five years ago has exploded as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The year started off fine for The Fresh Guys, said president Peter Braidman. But then COVID-19 came along.
Honeyacre Enterprises Ltd. started its greenhouse program the second week of April with tomatoes and cucumbers and will begin shipping orange, red and yellow bell peppers in June.
While vice president Mike Robertson said it’s pretty much business as usual for Lakewood, Colo.-based Pacific Shipping & Trading Co. Inc., he added, “I can’t say it’s totally normal.”
The Atlanta State Farmers Market is so much more than the name might imply. Yes, in the shed area, the general public wanders booths laden with fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers.
Eva Moghaddam wants to make it easier for every family to find healthier food. It’s a value that many producers and distributors in this industry share, a value that can coincide with a healthier earth as well.
A few of the large wholesalers and distributors at the Atlanta State Farmers Market, Forest Park, Ga., have expanded by adding or moving into new spaces on the property.
When you ask what’s happening at his company, Andrew Scott, director of business development and marketing at Nickey Gregory, says it’s been all about his state’s produce.
Willard, Ohio-based Buurma Farms Inc. added some new equipment for this year, said Loren Buurma, partner.
“We’re going to have another set of docks and also getting drawings made to have a 12,000-square-foot addition to our processing center,” said Alex DiNovo, president and COO.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put some expansion plans on hold at D.R. Walcher Farms in North Fairfield, Ohio, said Ken Holthouse, partner.
The Newcomerstown, Ohio-based Fruit Growers Marketing Association has partnered with Fremont, Ohio-based Great River Organics to launch a local organic line of vegetables.
The Columbus-based Ohio Restaurant Association has launched a couple of initiatives stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, said Homa Moheimani, director of communications.
Sanfillipo Produce Co. has upgraded its online ordering system, said Jamie Sanfil-lipo, partner and sales manager.
Sirna & Sons Produce has brought in Allie Sirna as the second member of the Sirna family’s fourth generation to join the company, said Tom Sirna, president.