This year, produce supplier-marketer I Love Produce has set its sights beyond business as usual and is in growth mode, leveraging new partnerships to expand its reach.
But global produce markets continue to challenge fresh produce suppliers and distributors — of all sizes and expertise — with quality and volume issues because of changing weather patterns and events. I Love Produce, a year-round fresh produce company specializing in fresh garlic, ginger and shallots, is eager to bring its new crop of garlic from Spain and China to market this July.
“I am very happy with the quality of the new crop peeled garlic, both from Spain and China,” Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce, told The Packer. “Fresh garlic is challenging from Spain and China this year, because of cosmetic skin discoloration resulting from rain at the harvests.”
What’s unusual, Provost added, is for both Spain and China to get significant rain during the June harvest season. This could be due to the El Niño weather pattern causing this unique condition, he said.
After a tough spring on the garlic harvests in Spain and China, California has experienced a record heat wave during late garlic harvest, Provost said, and other parts of the world are also experiencing record-setting temperatures, creating a huge challenge to garlic yields and quality.
Related news: Garlic market conditions finally favorable for domestic growers
“Fresh ginger has also experienced supply challenges as a result,” Provost said. “New ginger from Peru is shipping now, which will alleviate some of the supply pressure resulting from a gap in supply and a poor-quality crop from China.”
Having been in the fresh produce sourcing business for 20 years, I Love Produce uses its experience navigating the challenges and market fluctuations to source a year-round supply of fresh garlic, ginger and shallots.
The company also has plans to expand its reach and leverage its expertise with new partnerships.
Broadening reach by bringing in new partners
The West Grove, Pa.-based marketer has recently partnered with Promise Holdings, a Chicago-based holding company specializing in the food industry. Promise Holdings subsidiaries include Hickory Farms, Annabelle Candy Co., Catalina Finer Foods, Uncle John’s Pride Sausages and Pear’s Snacks, according to a news release.
Promise Holding’s new investment will help I Love Produce with advances in technology, equipment and marketing that will increase efficiencies and add value to customer relationships, the release said.
“Investing in I Love Produce is our first foray into the produce side of the industry,” said a statement in the release attributed to Promise Holdings co-owners Gordon Liao and Jacqueline Brooks. “It is an exciting opportunity, but more importantly, our core values line up with the I Love Produce team and the long-standing family culture that Jim, Neil and Eric have built. We are looking forward to working together with the entire team to grow the business over the long term.”
I Love Produce’s current senior management team will continue to manage and run the operations. With that future in mind, the founders of I Love Produce, Provost and Neil Millman, have recently offered a stake of ownership to Vice President of Sales Eric Frasse, according to the release.
“Eric has been fighting the battles for I Love Produce since he started with us 12 years ago,” Provost said in the release. “His track record of success and deep industry knowledge will help us, and he has earned a stake in the next phase of our business growth as a partner.”
“Our new partnership sets up I Love Produce for the next generation and assures the future for our team of dedicated coworkers, our supplier/vendor partners, and our customer partners,” Millman said in the release. “We are excited about the new products and ideas that have already been emerging during our meetings.”
