L&M has expanded its acreage in North Carolina to accommodate growing customers’ needs, says Crystal Wells, grower support coordinator for the Raleigh, N.C.-based marketer.
For example, the company has expanded its portfolio in the past five years to include broccoli and melons, she said.
The marketer sources produce from the North Carolina coast to the mountains in the western part of the state, working with grower partners who have had relationships with L&M that span decades, Wells said.
Onions, cabbage, potatoes, watermelons, bell peppers, squash, sweet potatoes and cucumbers are just a few of the company’s important commodities from North Carolina.
In mid-May, L&M was harvesting broccoli, cabbage, and onions in eastern North Carolina. By late May, L&M will be full swing with squash, cabbage and cucumbers in the state, Wells said.
In June and July, L&M will be harvesting North Carolina bell peppers, watermelons, and colored potatoes along with other mixed vegetable items, Wells said.
Labor and rising input costs continue to be huge factors for growers, Well said, and that means automation and labor-reducing practices are trends that will have to be increasingly implemented for produce growers remain profitable and farming for generations to come, she said.
Food safety leader recognized
Charlie Meadows, L&M’s food safety manager, was selected as a participant in the 2023 International Fresh Produce Association’s Produce Safety Immersion Program. Meadows joined L&M in November 2022, Wells said.
“In his short time with us, he has travelled extensively to our farms, warehouses and packing facilities as well as meeting with our growers,” she said. “He is on track to make great contributions to strengthen our food safety program.”
