Missions accomplished: A Q&A with produce exec Chelsea Consalo

Chelsea Consalo’s heart is full.

She is the executive vice president of her family business, Consalo Family Farms and The Fresh Wave Fruit & Produce. Consalo also recently became the vice president of a faith-based organization on a mission to end food insecurity in her hometown of Vineland, N.J.

But in some respects, this is just the beginning for Consalo.

She is headed to Harvard Business School in January to study agribusiness with the goal of further growing her family business.

To learn more about what’s ahead for Consalo and Consalo Family Farms, The Packer recently connected with the dynamic produce industry executive.

You were recently elected vice president by the board of directors of Spirit & Truth Ministries/Vineland Soup Kitchen. What does this mean to you and what do you hope to achieve as vice president?

Consalo: The driving mission of the Vineland Soup Kitchen is the devotion to provide food assistance to the low-income, food insecure and homeless in the city of Vineland. When I became involved, I wanted to devote some of my time to doing this. After a short time, my heart became overwhelmed by our guests and the enthusiasm of the rest of our board and our volunteers. I began to get more involved with fundraising, and the soup kitchen started to become a big part of my life.

As my passion for the organization grew, it was noticed by my fellow board members. Soon after, I was elected vice president. I am grateful for this opportunity to continue the mission, most importantly ensuring that our guests receive a nutritious meal each day. Spirit & Truth has helped me grow as an individual, and I can only hope to give back to the organization what it has already given me.

You are about to enter the agribusiness program at Harvard. Congratulations. What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I will be traveling to the Harvard Business School for the agribusiness program in January. The focus of the program is the global agriculture landscape and how different factors drive change, demand and trends. Some examples include climate, consumer demand and the pandemic. I hope to expand my network by meeting other driven individuals. The goal is to build relationships while learning innovative and exciting ways to grow my family business. 

What can you tell us about the produce market in N.J. heading into 2023? What do you see as the main challenges and opportunities?

Organic demand is ever changing and continues to be a challenge for growers. Heading into 2023, we are taking this into consideration in crop forecasting and planning.  

When The Packer visited Consalo Family Farms earlier this year, it was in the process of expansion. What is the latest?

We are thrilled to have completed the second part of our expansion. We have increased our cold storage capacities as well as packing rooms. Consalo Family Farms does everything in house, and the opportunities to service retailers are endless. In addition, we have continued to grow our citrus brand, Little Smoochies, which has seen unbelievable consumer recognition in the marketplace. 

What products or trends are you most excited about heading into 2023?

We are very excited to have been asked to participate in a corporate challenge with St. Joseph’s University in early 2023, where students will be asked to brainstorm new packaging ideas for our products. I will be working closely with the university students and judging the ideas and selections. Sustainable packaging is a hot topic right now, but the biggest challenge is ensuring that the packaging does not affect the quality of the product for the consumer. In my initial review with the students, this will be a key theme for the project. 

You are one of those rare people who make others ask: How does she do it? What’s the secret to your success?

I am indebted to my family business because I have been able to devote time to the Vineland Soup Kitchen. Besides this and all of the product donated, so many of our employees have gone out of their way to assist us — whether it be with drop-offs, heavy lifting or even printing and stuffing envelopes. Having this passion is truly what keeps me going. My heart is so full.

In addition, it’s worth mentioning that I do have the best dog in the world … 

Related: Chelsea Consalo shares a favorite recipe