Packer 25 2021 - Brent Erenwert

How did you get your start in the produce industry? What roles have you held during you career?

I was fortunate enough to be born into a family business. I remember as a young child selling watermelons off the dock of my father’s business. After high school, I started as a full-time employee, and have only worked for this company in my career. From sweeping the floors as a teenager to my current role as the CEO, and everything between.

How would you describe your current role?

As the CEO of Brothers Produce my role is to oversee all aspects of the brand. I work with my team members as well as my customers daily in several aspects of the business. I look toward the direction and guidance of my team to help me make decisions for our brand. I am a visionary and like to set goals each day for our brand to work toward within the organization. My goal each day is to ensure we continue, that we not only grow and evolve, but stay consistent in what we do.

What do you hope to accomplish/contribute through that role?

My goal is to ensure that our company continues to evolve, grow and build on the brand that Brothers Produce has become. I try to contribute a positive attitude and culture as a leader. I am a bigger believer in leading through servant leadership. I hope to continue to build this brand and see new leaders emerge in my own company as the leaders of tomorrow. I hope to continue to keep our focus on taking care of our people and our customers, all while staying consistent in what we do. I strive to focus on growing, but most importantly ensuring that it is profitable, sustainable growth.

What industry groups are you involved with?

I am very active in many organizations and charities. I have a passion for helping people, which began many years ago. My biggest focuses are on providing supplies to less fortunate and homeless areas. I am also very active in helping teach kids about where our food comes from. It is important they learn the farm to table concept. Our world, as we have seen especially in the past year, needs to be healthier in what we consume. I hope to continue to help kids understand the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. It can be not only healthy, but fun. I am also very active in disaster relief. From hurricanes to ice storms to COVID relief, I consider myself to be passionate and proactive to these times of crisis. I am also involved with animal shelters and relief efforts as well as anti-bullying organizations. I love helping people anywhere I can.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I have been very fortunate over my career to have had many great achievements. I believe, though, that my biggest accomplishment as a professional has been helping migrate my father’s company which he created, Brothers Produce, into an industry recognized brand. In 2015 I began this movement that started with a logo change followed by the creation of our industry-known “crazy trucks.” Marketing is very powerful to a brand and can help lead us to new segments of growth. As we have all seen through time, brand recognition is everything, and oftentimes brands live forever — companies do not. I believe years from now when I look back at my career it will be the marketing influence on Brothers Produce which will outweigh any of my accomplishments I did here.

What does leadership mean to you?

I believe leadership is earned. Being a leader starts with being a good listener who has the ability and trust to unite a group of people to work toward a common goal. A leader must be approachable, trustworthy, not afraid to take risks, but most importantly they must be respected. We all make mistakes, and it is important as a leader to always own up to your mistakes and use them as a tool to learn from.

Who are some of your industry mentors?

My father, Martin Erenwert, has been the biggest influence on me as a person. I learned pretty much all that I know working for him, and with him at my side all these years. He taught me how to be humble as a person, patient in business, and what the true value of a dollar is. A dollar saved is a dollar earned, and it is that money being put to the side which we can use as a building block to grow our future. Rome was not built in a day, but over time it became the empire it was. He showed me the value of partnerships, not just with our vendors, but also our customers. We all grow and prosper together in the game of business and life.

What’s a little-known or fun fact about you?

I am not a huge consumer of fresh produce, although my whole life revolves around it. My biggest dislikes are tomatoes, cilantro, and even mangoes. My favorite produce item is avocados. The typical way I eat produce is often not the healthiest way. For instance, if I eat cauliflower or zucchini, it is often deep-fried. I really need to focus more on practicing more of the life I preach living.