Eastern Produce Council

Eastern Produce Council retailer, supply professionals explore Philly port, wholesale market

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:27:05 GMT

The fourth Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class — including produce retailer and supplier professionals — saw first-hand the increasing complexity of the produce logistics and distribution system with a tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and Holt Logistics.

“This tour is the kick-off event of our leadership program and provides crucial insight into these parts of the supply chain,” Susan McAleavey Sarlund, council executive director, said in a news release. “We are excited to mentor another great class this year with diverse backgrounds and experiences.”

The group began its program at the wholesale market with a presentation from General Manager Mark Smith. Smith explained how the fully enclosed facility harnesses technology and why it is unique in the terminal market arena. The group then walked the concourse and met with several market merchants.

(Farm Journal)

The next stop on the tour was Holt Logistics Corp at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J. After lunch, Sander Daniel of Holt explained the facilities; the value-added services encompassing the Philadelphia port; and its role and importance in the import supply chain.

“Geographically we are in the largest economic region on the planet,” he said, according to the release. “We are also adjacent to the second largest D.C. hub in the U.S. Additionally, we are skilled at handling perishables — about 55% of imported containers at Packer Marine Terminal are refrigerated and we have on-dock CBP-Ag inspection facilities.”

Participants gleaned new insight from the real-world nature of the tour.

Anyone in the produce industry can register to attend Eastern Produce Council’s Casino Night gala April 9 at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J., the council’s biggest fundraiser and event of the year.

“I was very excited to visit the port in particular because I have purchased imported product and had never been to the port,” Noelle Neary, category manager at Wakefern, Elizabeth, N.J., said in the release “I loved learning about the different areas of the port and how there are specific USDA and fumigation areas, as well as learning that the turnaround time at the port does not begin until the container is unloaded, transferred in ownership and plugged in.”

Daniel escorted the participants on a tour of the Del Monte facility given by John McCann, vice president of the Northeast region for Del Monte Fresh Produce and council member. McCann explained the company’s system of receiving, processing and shipping imported product. He provided samples of ripe Del Monte pineapple and cantaloupe.

(Farm Journal)

Dan Oettinger, retail supervisor at JOH, Paramus, N.J., said in the release that he was impressed with the measures employed for the safety and transport of food.

“This is my first time visiting a facility like Del Monte’s,” he said. “It’s been eye-opening to see what it takes to secure delivery of our products.”

The council’s program delivers a dual-medium learning environment, including tours and classroom learning activities throughout the year.

“It was great to see how the participants were already very engaged with one another and the tours,” McAleavey Sarlund said in the release.

Participants selected for this year’s program include:

Mohammed Bouzaidi of Global Fresh Vision LLC;
John Carapella, Jr. of Sierra Produce;
Shanna Deegan of Suja Juice;
Catherine DeLettera with Zespri;
Louis Getzelman of Canyon Sales Company LLC;
Patrick Hallock of Four Seasons Produce;
Brendan Haslam of Bolthouse Farms;
Peter Machala of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Krystal McCusker of The Oppenheimer Group;
Juliet Moran with Suja Juice;
Noelle Neary of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Dan Oettinger with JOH Metro;
Garett Sebor of Key Food Stores;
Kate Watson of The Oppenheimer Group; and
Shawn Wen with Zespri.

Also participating in the tour was current council Vice President Theresa Lowden, executive vice president of produce and floral at JOH, and council Board Member Al Murray.

Industry bets on Eastern Produce Council's Casino Night gala

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:27:03 GMT

Guests turned out in formalwear and added some glitz and glimmer for the Eastern Produce Council’s annual Casino Night gala April 9 at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J.

As the council’s premier fundraising event for decades, it’s an important night for northeastern produce professionals, said Susan McAleavy Sarlund, council executive director.

Previously a formal sit-down dinner, Sarlund and her team revamped the event to be a buffet circling the premises, with sushi stations, meat-carving stations, seafood, fruit, vegetables and cuisines spanning the globe. After an hour, the game room floor opened to the crowd for card games and table games using council-themed play money.

These are the up-and-comers in Eastern Produce Council’s 2023 Leadership Class

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:47:37 GMT

The Eastern Produce Council has selected an unprecedented 26 members for its 2023 Leadership Class.

These up-and-coming produce professionals will benefit from several professional development opportunities applicable to the produce industry, according to a news release.

The program delivers growth and knowledge experiences in a variety of venues, as well as the chance to network with other young professionals. They work in companies along the supply chain, from retailers to wholesalers to growers.

Learn more on PMG: Eastern Produce Council

“Through this program, participants have the opportunity to grow from experiences in both field and classroom,” EPC Executive Director Susan McAleavey Sarlund said in the release. “This learning environment furthers their ability to develop their career in our industry. This is the largest class we’ve had yet, which underscores the value of this type of combined classroom-field program.”

Participants selected for this year’s program include:

Brian Arena, Four Seasons Produce Inc.
Julie Barber, The Oppenheimer Group.
Lauren Barczak, Procacci Bros. Sales Corp..
Jack Christy, The Oppenheimer Group.
Andrea Cutler, Michael Cutler Co.
Tyler Davidov, Suja.
Anna Fagan, AeroFarms.
Michael Hill, NatureSweet.
Chris Jacobsen, Silo.
Mike Kominsky, Ventura Foods.
Savannah Lloyd, Farm-Wey Produce Inc.
Joshua Minton, Frank Donio Inc.
Isaac Olivas, Fowler Farms.
Luke Palizay, Pacific Trellis Fruit.
Max Pozzessere, Little Leaf Farms.
Nicolina Rutherford, Wakefern Food Corp.
Jessica Sarter, Pulmuone Foods.
Jerry Scherwin, PennRose Farms.
Christopher Scotti, John Vena Inc.
Eric Smith, John Vena Inc.
Karolina Sokolska, Hampton Farms.
Alexis Sommers, F&S Fresh Foods.
Joseph Strumolo, Wakefern Food Corp.
Stephanie Tramutola, A & J Produce Corp.
Jenna Vaccaro, Sugar Foods.
Nicholas Vargas, Wakefern Food Corp.

The 2023 program will kick off in March with a visit to the Philadelphia Produce Wholesale Market, followed by Holt Cargo Systems at the Port of Gloucester, N.J.

Related news: New York Produce Show busier than in 2021

“Experiencing the logistical role of these crucial hubs first-hand provides a key perspective into the supply chain,” McAleavey Sarlund said.

In April, the group will participate in a seminar on the Food Safety and Modernization Act at Top Golf in Edison, N.J., before an EPC membership event at the same location.

“This seminar presents and discusses significant food safety issues,” McAleavey Sarlund said. “Food safety is another crucial area for our industry and remains an important topic to incorporate into leadership development.”

In October, the class will enjoy field experiences at Hionis Greenhouses and Rutgers Snyder Research Farm in New Jersey, and a seminar in leadership by a Rutgers University adjunct professor. The program will wrap up in December with participation in the New York Produce Show, including the Cornell University Foundational Excellence Future-Leaders-In-Produce program, the show’s opening reception, and recognition at the keynote breakfast.

Related news: New York Produce Show busier than in 2021

Eastern Produce Council releases 2022 New York Produce Show agenda

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:25:39 GMT

Registration is open for the Nov. 29-Dec. 2 show held in the heart of New York City.

The bulk of the Tuesday to Friday conference starts with the opening cocktail reception Wednesday evening. The keynote breakfast follows Thursday morning, before the trade show floor opens at 10 a.m.

Educational micro-sessions will run throughout the show, which wraps up at 5 p.m.

And then on the final day, Friday, attendees can choose among five bus tours across the greater New York City metropolitan area:

Manhattan retailers
New Jersey retailers and AeroFarms tours
Brooklyn retailers and urban agriculture
Hunts Point Produce Market
Philadelphia Produce Market and Wegmans

To learn more, visit easternproducecouncil.com .

New York Produce Show set for Dec. 9-11, virtually for now

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 13:34:41 GMT

“Uncertainty” is one of the buzzwords of 2020, but trade show organizers and participants are planning as much as possible with ever-changing local guidelines.

New York City, with its densely packed 8.6 million residents and prior designation as the epicenter of the coronavirus at its local peak in April, has had some of the strictest quarantine rules in the U.S.

It’s no surprise, then, that the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan contacted the New York Produce Show and Conference organizers in October, exercising the event contract’s option to reschedule show dates.

The center’s request was due to the state COVID-19 pandemic re-opening guidance, said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, executive director of the Eastern Produce Council , show co-sponsor.

In late November, Manhattan remained in Phase 4, which prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people.

Instead of postponing the show until sometime in early or mid-2021, organizers decided to present a virtual show on the originally scheduled dates.

The show will be presented Dec. 9-11 on an online platform, with the virtual expo Dec. 10, Sarlund said.

“There’s an exciting piece to this. This year will be a show that will highlight marketers and other companies year-round, and the virtual platform will be available throughout the year,” Sarlund said. “This is a year of finding the silver linings.”

The online show will continue “on demand,” 24 hours a day for the whole year through the live event next December. Marketing, merchandising, management and procurement events will be scheduled throughout the year.

Also, exhibitors who paid for the 2020 in-person show will have their investment transferred to the 2021 in-person New York Produce Show and will be able to participate in the 2020 virtual event at no extra charge.

“We’re grateful for the continued support of our 2020 exhibitors,” Sarlund said.

This will be the first virtual show for Nash Produce , Nashville, N.C., said Rebecca Scott, grower accounting and marketing manager.

“We plan to learn along with everyone else. We are currently working on ‘creating our booth’ within the expo portal and plan to have photos of our products and services. There may even be a video of our production, showing our sweet potatoes from farm to fork,” Scott said.

Nash had been signed up for the 2020 physical show since registration opened after the 2019 event.

“Due to the pandemic and the concern for the health of all produce professionals, we appreciate that (the) New York Produce team is allowing us to take a stab at a virtual show,” Scott said.

Agenda details with specific companies and speakers were not available in mid-November. Typically, the schedule includes a keynote breakfast with a thought leader panel, several educational micro-sessions, chef demonstrations, cocktail receptions, the expo, bus tours and a foodservice forum.

Scott said she hopes to check in with as well as update the Nash company page periodically throughout the year.

“Of course, we will miss having that in-person interaction with our customers but are confident that we will be able to be united once again very soon,” she said.

“As this year has proved, a lot can occur over a year timeframe.”

The next in-person show is scheduled for Dec. 13-17, 2021, at the Javits Center, with the expo on Dec. 15, Sarlund said.

For questions, contact show organizers at exhibit@nyproduceshow.com or 212-426-2218.

Company viewpoints on New York Produce Show

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 11:26:59 GMT

We asked several company leaders and representatives to weigh in on their experience with the New York Produce Show in years past and the virtual version planned for Dec. 8-11. Here’s what they had to say.

Baldor Specialty Foods , Bronx, N.Y.

“We’ve been primary sponsor in past, with a booth at the bottom of the escalator. I’m just not sure what this year looks like,” said Michael Muzyk, president.

Canyon Sales Co. , Bronx, N.Y.

“If it’s virtual, I’m sure I’d pop in. We’ve gone as representative for GPOD in previous years,” said Lou Getzelman Jr., who handles receivers and organizes the transportation for the brokerage firm of GPOD of Idaho potatoes, other potatoes, onions and carrots at Hunts Point Produce Market. His father, Louis Getzelman Sr., took over the company in August 2019.

“We had a table there last year and probably the year before that. It’s always good to see some of the receivers who you don’t deal with as much. You don’t get a chance to have all those people in a room in one shot like that. You get to actually introduce yourself to a shipper.”

He hasn’t been to an online show yet.

Coosemans New York , Bronx, N.Y.

“It was such a crazy year that we haven’t had the resources to participate in the virtual show with a booth, but we may go as attendees to see who’s there and what the new products are. We always love doing that,” said Ray Hernandez, in charge of purchasing at Coosemans at Hunts Point Produce Market.

Crunch Time Apple Growers , Lockport, N.Y.

“This is the first virtual show we will attend, and we chose to do so based on our past relationship with the in-person show, the overall value with the digital show and carry-over through next year’s show,” said Jessica Wells, Crunch Time business manager.

“With New York being the birthplace of both SnapDragon and RubyFrost, as well (as the) only place they are commercially grown, the New York show makes a lot of sense for us in terms of reaching local and regional produce buyers, as well as those that attend from farther away because of the New York City experience.

“Though the virtual show lacks the ability to interact face-to-face with potential buyers and eliminates the opportunity to provide in-person samples, we’re hopeful that the virtual buyer interactions we have will be better quality interactions than in the past without the hustle and rushed nature of the in-person show as factors. The year-long benefit may prove helpful in this way as well.”

FreshDirect, Bronx, N.Y.

“We participate in the New York Produce Show every year, and plan to this year as well,” said Scott Crawford, chief merchandising officer. “We enjoy connecting with our produce community — tasting and experiencing great fresh food together — so, of course, our preference is to attend in person. This year, we’re saddened that we can’t be together given the circumstances but look forward to the show nonetheless.”

Giorgio Fresh Co. , Blandon, Pa.

“We first participated in the New York show in 2010 and have had a booth and presence ever since,” said Naba Bakar, director of marketing for GoldenSun Insights, the mushroom company’s marketing firm.

“We have always supported the Northeast market, and the New York show has a great following with great customer interactions. The programs have been very beneficial from a learning perspective. The venue is terrific, especially at the holiday time. Unfortunately, this year, Giorgio is not participating; however, we plan to attend in 2021.”

Nash Produce , Nashville, N.C.

“Our president, Thomas Joyner, along with a few other members of our team, attended the first New York Produce Show to see what the buzz was about and every year since, Nash Produce has been a loyal exhibitor,” said Rebecca Scott, grower accounting and marketing manager.

“The New York Produce Show is a must-attend for us, as there are many current customers that take time out of their busy schedules to stop by our booth for a visit. The show also gives us an excellent opportunity to connect with new faces that are interested in beginning a long-term partnership with us ...This will ultimately be our first virtual show, so we plan to learn with many other attendees.”

Nathel & Nathel , Bronx, N.Y.

“We love the New York Produce Show. We go every year and usually have a booth,” said Joshua Gatcke, fruit procurement buyer for the company based at Hunts Point Produce Market.

“It’s going to be different this year, but we’re looking forward to it. Like any show, it gives you a chance to connect with people you do business with in-person. So much of what we do is over the phone. You become like best friends with your customers and suppliers, and often you won’t see them for months and months at a time. It’s a really, really well-executed show as well.”

Related news:

New York Produce Show addresses pandemic past, present, future

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:04:02 GMT

NEW YORK — The virtual New York Produce Show and Conference kicked off with a message from New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball, who addressed the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If there is one silver lining that we can find through such a difficult period, I think it’s that there is a renewed appreciation of agriculture and our food system,” Ball said in a pre-recorded show introduction. “Buyers are more aware of the food supply chain and understand all the hard work that is done across the agricultural industry to get food on the tables nationwide.”

Ball also highlighted New York State Grown and Certified, the only program of its kind in the nation that certifies produce was grown in the state in a safe, environmentally-friendly way.

“(It) carries a broader message that consumers are looking for,” Ball said.

Running for more than 10 years, the New York show is the largest fixed-site produce event in the Americas, co-organizer Susan McAleavey Sarlund of Eastern Produce Council said in her introduction.

At the Dec. 9-11 event, there were more than 140 online exhibitors. Instant video chats were available at booths, with an option to schedule them for later.

Company descriptions, videos, photos, staff contacts and resources on new products, services and programs were also at the trade show booths.

The first day’s session recordings were posted by end of day and sponsored by Hunts Point Produce Market .

One of the featured speakers was Kelly Davis, director of produce and floral at Allegiance Retail Services , Iselin, N.J. The cooperative of 107 stores has 45 owners and 10 banners, from value-conscious chains such as Foodtown and Pathmark to higher-end Gristedes and D’Agostino, both New York City stalwarts.

To adjust to the changing demand and health and safety protocols, some of those stores transitioned employees from preparing food for delis and salad bars to shopping for home delivery.

“And they had to give more floor space to do that in our stores,” she said. “We’ve had triple-digit growth in online sales.”

Pre-pandemic partnerships with delivery services helped the transition.

Allegiance Retail stores are targeting marketing efforts much more online, including pop-up ads that encourage a customer to do last-minute shopping on those items.

“We’ve put more emphasis on social media — Facebook, Instagram — especially with produce,” Davis said, citing a monthly promotion of produce that are in season. “You’ve got to do more social media and more marketing on that online page now.”

Paul Kneeland, vice president of Encino, Calif.-based Gelson’s Market , a Southern California regional chain, said something as simple as replacing missing photos from the website shopping portal improves sales of those products.

“Because they’re buying with their eyes online,” Kneeland said.

In-store sampling, a key to encouraging customers to try new products, may be paused for now, but Gelson’s is trying it in a new way, such as virtual tastings that involve picking up a sample box at the store and joining in a live, online tasting event.

The merchandising team at Langhorne, Pa.-based McCaffrey’s Food Markets created quick-response codes at some displays, said Tony Mirack, produce and floral director of operations. Customers can scan the codes with their phones to watch “Produce Talks with Tony” episodes on McCaffrey’s YouTube channel.

It’s yet another innovation born from a COVID-19-induced challenge.

“I don’t think there’s going back to the old normal,” Kneeland said. “I think we’re in a new age.”

EPC golf outing brings industry together

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:46:30 GMT

A tradition for the Eastern Produce Council , its annual golf outing, became much more this year for the organization, which typically has a calendar full of events.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the EPC has been forced to cancel numerous events or shift them to online video events, from monthly dinner meetings, Leadership Class presentations, annual Volunteer Night and its Casino Night gala.

The 45th Annual Sal Zacchia, Phil LaRocca and Pete Piastra Memorial Golf Outing on Sept. 12 was the first official gathering for the group in months.

Originally scheduled in June, the golf event was postponed because of the pandemic, according to a news release.

Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director, thanked members for supporting the event and the golf committee, which was committed to bringing members together for the first time in what has been an unprecedented period for the industry, according to the release.

The event was at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, N.J.

The top two teams scored 59, but a team consisting of Derrick Bender, Ed Rummel, Sam Cefalu and Anthony DeAngelis broke the tie. Second-place team members were Michael Rojas, Angela Aronica and Daniel Milan, according to the release.

Other winners were:

Michael Rojas and Theresa Lowden, longest drives;
Michael D’Arrigo, Rich Borchers, Brian D’Arrigo and Steve Tirado, closest to the pin; and
Michael Hungerbuhler, putting contest.

Related stories:

EPC’s tailgate event canceled, apple-picking scheduled as planned

Eastern Produce Council’s New Jersey events in flux

EPC presents Nolan scholarship via video

EPC family apple-picking event, sunshine entices good attendance

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:48:19 GMT

While many industry events are canceled, Eastern Produce Council has reveled in a couple annual outdoor events that enabled members to attend safely during a pandemic.

The 6th annual Joe DeLorenzo Family Apple-Picking Event on Oct. 3 drew about 100 people — “about the same as last year,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director. The event was at Melick’s Cider Mill and Orchard, Oldwick, N.J.

The day was almost better than last year because it was so hot in 2019, said Deanna Keefer, daughter of the event’s namesake, as her children ran in circles around her and her sister, Gina Lucia.

“My dad was all about family,” Keefer said. “Family was No. 1. We’re honored they keep his memory alive and do this every year.”

About 40 members of Lorenzo’s family attended, they said.

“I remember he’d tell us how to pick produce. He was obsessed,” Lucia said. “I’d call him from the store, and ask, ‘How do I pick a cantaloupe?’”

Macoun, empire, golden delicious, red delicious, cortland, and jonagold apple varieties were available for picking.

Hay rides at the orchards were available, or participants could meander the rows at leisure.

Related news:

EPC Golf Outing brings industry together

EPC’s tailgate event canceled, apple picking scheduled as planned

EPC presents Nolan scholarship via video

Eastern Produce Council's Family Apple-Picking Event

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:48:19 GMT

Many members and their families attended the 6th annual Joe DeLorenzo Family Apple Picking Event, hosted Oct. 3, by Eastern Produce Council at Melick’s Cider Mill & Orchard, Oldwick, N.J.

EPC event spotlights NFL legend who inspired movie

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:16:15 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mark Wahlberg played him in the movie, “Invincible.” Nobody got past the fan-turned-wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, catching 11 passes for 185 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns in his NFL career.

But Vince Papale was all Vince Papale in his keynote talk at the October Eastern Produce Council ’s Third Annual Tailgate Event Oct. 2 at MetLife Stadium, as he made connections between overcoming his challenges in football and what professionals in the produce industry face.

“We’ve all had crazy dreams, haven’t we? If you did the unthinkable, that’s your story,” Papale told the crowd. “Everybody here busted their butts to get where they are today, used sweat equity.”

EPC president Marianne Santo introduced representatives from the evening’s sponsors, Stacey Miller, Litehouse Inc. director of marketing, and Seth Pemsler, Idaho Potato Commission retail vice president.

Miller said Litehouse had just earned the No. 1 ranking salad dressing brand in the U.S.

“In the last five years, we’ve made a good footprint here in the Northeast. We purchased a plant in Virginia, which will help us with distribution and is really helping us focus our efforts on growing our business here,” said Miller, who introduced Papale.

Papale had no football experience besides one year in high school and was 30 years old when he attended the open tryouts for the Eagles, his home team where he’d often cheered from the stands. He was the son of a pig farmer and athletic mother. He recalled eating Idaho potato salad sandwiches as a child.

Papale met a lot of resistance when he made the team. When introducing something innovative, handle the pushback the same way he did, Papale suggested.

“Beware of dreamkillers: intimidation, resentment, insecurity, jealousy,” Papale said. “Dreams are not lived on the sidelines.”

Remember personal motivations such as family, health, competition and respect, he said.

And as clichéd as it sounds, a teamwork mentality is critical to accomplishing a dream.

Related news:

Eastern Produce Council cancels TopGolf event, offers scholarship

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:11:06 GMT

Eastern Produce Council , Short Hills, N.J., has canceled its April 7th TopGolf event but is calling for applications for its seventh-annual scholarship.

The canceled event was sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

“Our world and the restrictions put in place around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have changed dramatically these past few days…We will keep you updated and informed about future EPC events,” council executive director Susan McAleavey Sarlund wrote in an email to members.

EPC had already canceled its March 10 event, a volunteer night at Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

“Most importantly, I hope you and your families are doing well under these unreal circumstances,” McAleavey Sarlund said. “We look forward to being together as a produce community!”

In the meantime, members in good standing and their families can apply through April 17 for the James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation /Eastern Produce Council Scholarship.

The foundation was established in 2010 by Theresa Nolan in honor of her husband, James Lawrence Nolan, who died in 2008.

A veteran in the fresh produce industry, he challenged those who sought to violate anti-trust laws at his former company, according to the foundation.

“His whistleblower actions cost him his job, but he refused to bow to the pressure to go along with the attempts to circumvent the law,” according to the foundation website. “Jim died before he was vindicated in a lawsuit that followed, but a judge and jury exonerated his efforts.”

Part of the funds from the settlement of the lawsuit were used to establish and endow the foundation.

The foundation’s mission is to promote ethics and integrity in business and the workplace and to support students through scholarships that challenge them to contemplate ethics as they enter the business world.

Applicants for this $5,000 scholarship must be related to a council member who has been a member of the council for at least six months preceding the date of the application.

A 2.5 minimum GPA is required, as well as a 500-word essay on ethics, including an example of facing and dealing with an ethical challenge.

A winner will be announced May 19.

To download the application, visit easternproducecouncil.com . For more information, email easternproducecouncil@gmail.com or call 908-723-0645.

Related news:

Eastern Produce Council selects 2020 Leadership Class

EPC cancels volunteer night over coronavirus concerns

EPC event spotlights NFL legend who inspired movie

Eastern Produce Council's fall apple-picking event is full of family

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:34 GMT

If apple-picking in the fall is a rite of passage for a Northeasterner, then more than 100 people earned their badges Saturday.

Eastern Produce Council members, their families and Joe DeLorenzo’s family enjoyed a summer-like morning doing that oh-so autumnal activity at Melick Farm in Oldwick, N.J., for the fifth annual Joe DeLorenzo Family Event, according to a news release.

Cider and doughnuts kicked off the morning, followed by tractor rides that took families up to the orchard to pick apples . After returning from the orchard, everyone enjoyed fresh grilled corn on the cob, hot dogs and popcorn.

This year’s gathering featured a special guest, 3-month old Joseph Michael DeLorenzo, son of the event namesake’s son Anthony, and named in honor of his deceased grandfather.

The event was named in honor of the council’s longtime board member and two-time president, who died in November 2014.

“Joe was all about family, and this event is an opportunity for EPC families to remember Joe and spend time together out on a farm in primetime apple season,” Susan McAleavey Sarlund, council executive director, said in the release.

More than 35 members of the DeLorenzo family attended, and they’re all New Jersey residents, except for one of his daughters and her family who came up from Florida.

Related news:

Applications accepted for EPC leadership program

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:23:08 GMT

Applications are being accepted for the Eastern Produce Council’s 2020 Leadership Program.

The applications, available online are due by Jan. 31. Accepted applicants will by notified by Feb. 28, according to a news release.

The program is a professional development experience for produce industry members who have less than 10 years of experience in the industry.

Ten to 12 applicants will be selected for the EPC program, according to the release.

Related articles

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Eastern Produce Council celebrates first class of young leader s

How to autumn: Pick apples with Eastern Produce Council

Eastern Produce Council’s Nolan scholarship deadline set

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:48:17 GMT

The 8th annual Eastern Produce Council and James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship deadline is April 23.

The winner will be announced May 25, according to a news release.

2021 James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation & Eastern Produce Council Scholarship Fund

The scholarship is open to all EPC members in good standing. Applicants for this $5,000 scholarship must be related to an EPC member who has been a member of the council for at least six months before the date of the application.

A 2.5 minimum grade point average is required to apply.

Applicants must provide a brief description of the applicant’s (or family’s) involvement with the council.

For questions or more information, contact the office at easternproducecouncil@gmail.com or call 908-723-0645.

New Jersey growers share crop, market updates to festive crowd

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:25 GMT

The flip side to crazy freight rates is that Northeast customers may look more to Jersey Fresh produce this summer and fall rather than pay for a truck to come from the West, said New Jersey produce professionals.

That’s why the 2021 marketing theme for the state’s produce is “Stay Loyal to Local,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher at Eastern Produce Council’ s annual barbecue event sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture May 25 at Demarest Farm, Hillsdale, N.J.

Crop quality and volume has been excellent so far in New Jersey, said John Banscher, president of the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, as he gave an update on the season’s start.

“The only downside is price. Prices are low. Greens farmers are chopping them up because there’s no dollar value. A crate of romaine is going for $6 or $3,” he told the crowd of more than 125 people gathered to enjoy barbecue pork and chicken, as well as Jersey Fresh asparagus, spinach and romaine, outside under a tent. “It’s a shame because romaine is looking excellent.”

Banscher urged produce buyers to offer a decent price.

The stone fruit crop has thrived in good chill hours this winter, and this drier spring was preferred to an overly wet one, said Lewis DeEugenio of Summit City Farms and president of the Jersey Fruit Cooperative.

“It’s a lot easier to add water than to take it away,” he said.

Peaches and nectarines should start shipping the last week of June or early July through mid-September, he said, emphasizing the need to buy local as well.

“We’d like to keep the ‘garden’ in the Garden State,” DeEugenio said of the state’s moniker.

Andi Eklund, the university-bound daughter of EPC member Bruce Eklund of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Services in New Jersey, won the 2021 James & Theresa Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship of $5,000.

Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director, also announced two outgoing council board officers and two incoming board officers for the 2021-2022 term.

Next on the event calendar is the 46th annual golf event June 12 at Fox Hollow Golf Club, Branchburg, N.J.

For more information, visit easternproducecouncil.com, call 908-723-0645, or email info@easternproducecouncil.com.

Golfers get into the swing of Eastern Produce Council event

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:48:08 GMT

Produce industry networking events are getting back into full swing: The recent sunny, temperate day was ideal for Eastern Produce Council ’s 46th annual Sal Zacchia, Phil LaRocca and Pete Piastra Memorial Golf Outing.

On June 12, the council hosted its event at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, N.J., according to a news release.

The winning results are in:

Top-ranking team, with a score of 53: Four Seasons ’ Pat Powers, Wes Jones, Pat Campellone and Jake Barwell;
Second place team, with a score of 60: Brendan Burns and Doug Johnson of Bolthouse Farms and Matt Bernat of Curation Foods;
Longest Drive winners: Wes Jones and Dylan Dembeck;
Closest to the Pin winners: Samer Rahman, Tony Abbatemarco, Ira Greenstein and Derek Bender; and
Putting Contest Prize: Split between James Sears and Tony Abbatemarco.

Following golf, participants enjoyed lunch and cocktails, a 50/50 raffle, prize raffle, and grand prize drawing for a new set of golf clubs and bag.

EPC executive director Susan McAleavey Sarlund thanked the attendees and the golf committee, comprised of Alexa Conciatori, Kelly Davis, Anthony Latona, Rich Martin, Jim Mulcahy, Al Murray, Gary Roselli, Marianne Santo and Tracy Simmonds.

She also thanked the sponsors, including gold sponsors Dole and Giorgio and bronze sponsors A&J Produce , American Blueberries , Fruitco , Hapco Farms , Lancaster Foods and Robinson Fresh .

Next on the calendar for the Eastern Produce Council is the Idaho Potato Commission and Litehouse Foods -sponsored Tailgate Event at MetLife Stadium Sept. 21.

The guest speaker will be Harry Carson, NFL Hall of Famer and former New York Giant football player.

Eastern Produce Council gets into the swing of 2021

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:59:46 GMT

Industry members gathered April 27 in Edison, N.J., for Eastern Produce Council’s first event of 2021, the annual TopGolf event, sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

“People were happy to be out, together with their colleagues from the produce industry,” Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director, said in a news release.

The event included Chris Yonce, South Carolina Peach Council president (left to right); Weatherly Thomas of South Carolina Specialty Crop Growers Association; McAleavey Sarlund; Stevie Stills of South Carolina Watermelon Association; Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture; Katie Pfeiffer, South Carolina Department of Agriculture market development coordinator; Kelly Davis of Allegiance Retail Services; Michelle Cantey of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and EPC vice president; Marianne Santo of Wakefern Food Corp. and EPC president; Tracy Simmonds of Affinity Sales and EPC board member; Jack Schuler, South Carolina Department of Agriculture economic development director; and Clint Leach, South Carolina Department of Agriculture assistant commissioner.

Football legend Harry Carson answers sports, career, life questions

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:28:30 GMT

Work, with all its transitions and challenges, doesn’t have to define you, but the way you handle those challenges can, said former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, pro football hall of famer.

Carson spoke to more than 100 produce professionals at Eastern Produce Council’s Sept. 21 tailgate event at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The event was sponsored by Idaho Potato Commission and Litehouse Foods.

“Playing football is really something I did. It wasn’t who I was,” Carson told the crowd.

His speech at the EPC event was more of an interactive Q&A with the audience in the style of 1980s TV talk show host innovator Phil Donahue, rather than a formal talk behind a podium.

Answering one audience member’s question, Carson said one of his biggest challenges was transitioning from a defensive linebacker in college to a middle linebacker for the Giants when he was drafted in 1976.

“They asked me to switch positions to one I’d never played before, in the largest market for football in the world,” he said. “The middle position was reserved for white guys. It was a ‘thinking man’s position,’ and for me to come from a small black college and to get that position, well, I was able to make that transition.”

Carson played with the team for his whole football career, for 13 seasons, or 173 games, leading the team in tackles for five years and serving as team captain for 10.

Then he tackled another big life and career transition when he retired after the 1988 season, two years after helping the team win its first Super Bowl.

Carson became president and CEO of an eponymous sports consulting and promotions company and authored two books, “Point of Attack” and “Captain for Life.” He was executive director and chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works to create more racial and gender diversity in non-player roles in the NFL, such as coaches, scouts and coordinators.

A spokesman for several health issues, Carson also spreads awareness of the lifelong neurological damage that can happen from sports concussions and is considered an expert on the matter.

At his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 2006, Carson used his speech to urge the NFL to take better care of its retired players, with pensions and health care benefits.

Taking care of your teammates, your staff and your family are always what matters most, he told the EPC crowd.

This is a value he learned young.

Growing up in South Carolina, Carson’s parents didn’t reach high school, and his mother worked as a housecleaner and had to move to Newark, N.J., when he was 10, to follow the work. They arranged visits whenever possible.

So, playing for the Giants in New York had a familial benefit too, because he could pick up his mom after football practice, take her to church, spend time with her and be back in time to play for the team. She was only 12 miles away.

“I came from a very loving family, and I try to instill that in my family,” Carson said. “I try to be nice to people — except on the football field.”

The next Eastern Produce Council events include the 7th Annual Joe DeLorenzo Family Apple Picking Oct. 2 and the New York Produce Show and Conference Dec. 13-17, when EPC will take applications for its 2022 Leadership Program.

EPC Leadership Class tours Hionis Greenhouses

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:58:07 GMT

Hionis Greenhouses, Whitehouse Station, N.J., provided another learning experience for the third Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class.

The group toured the operation’s greenhouse facilities Oct. 5, and took another leadership seminar by John Eric Jacobsen, a trainer with the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education, according to a news release.

Hionis has a three-decade history, said Tim Hionis, co-owner, starting with his parents, Spiro and Angie, and now run by him and his three brothers, Pete, Spiro and Gerry.

“My parents started with a one-acre greenhouse in 1985,” he said in the release. “We have now grown to two locations with a total of 15 acres under cover, producing a wide variety of products year-round.”

Kelsey Rose of John Vena Inc. in Philadelphia, said the Hionis operation was remarkable.

“It’s very impressive they’ve built such a large operation and stayed successful over the years, even surviving the struggles and being creative during COVID,” she said in the release. “The greenhouse plant and floral side is different from what I see in my produce job on a day-to-day basis.”

Greater incorporation of the floral side of the produce business is an aim of the EPC.

“Floral and plants have become an increasingly important aspect of the produce department,” EPC executive director Susan McAleavey Sarlund said in the release. “We want more floral entities increasingly involved with our organization and the various sectors of our industry. Visiting Hionis was part of this integration plan.”

Besides the many mums, EPC participants viewed greenhouse operations for succulents, poinsettias and tropicals. The operation also produces Easter flowering bulbs, spring bedding plants and annuals, and flowering baskets.

Hionis explained the role of technology, pointing out a new computerized robotic “sticking machine” used to plant un-rooted cuttings in seedling trays.

“This machine has been a lifesaver for us this past year with the labor shortage,” he said in the release. “Without this machine, my brothers and I would have been here all night doing this work.”

Hionis also discussed new marketing opportunities in greenhouse product.

“We are seeing increased demand for succulents,” he said. “We also have started offering coffee plants, which have become a novelty item. We offer a special shipper with them for retail to easily display.”

In the afternoon, the class learned from Jacobsen as he covered how to master listening and feedback strategies. Jacobsen emphasized the importance of rapport in leadership and feedback and spent time discussing key aspects of subconscious behavior and body language. “Research indicates 93% of all communication is non-verbal,” he said in the release. “The best leaders must be tri-channel communicators, delivering effectively on all three levels – how you look, how you sound and what you say.”

Sarlund agreed about the importance of rapport in the produce industry and EPC.

“So much of what the EPC does is about developing rapport,” she said in the release. “The relationships in our business mean everything, and all our activities from this leadership program to the New York Produce Show center around building rapport between industry members.”

Meeting people who work in all different parts of the produce world is a key benefit of the EPC’s Leadership Class, Vena’s Rose said in the release.

“I’m used to what I see every day in my office at the produce market,” she said. “In our EPC class, there are people who deal with transportation, or buying, or other aspects of the business. Gaining an understanding of what they deal with daily is helpful. It puts everything into perspective.”

Phu Dinh, who handles inside sales at FreshPro Food Distributors in West Caldwell, N.J., valued learning how to listen more effectively.

“I thought I was a good listener but John really showed me how to be a better listener,” he said in the release. “That aspect of the seminar was very helpful.”

The EPC Leadership Program chooses up to 20 up-and-coming produce professionals for each Leadership Class, a professional development experience for those with fewer than 10 years of experience in the industry.

Participants selected for this year’s program include:

Rich Arduini of FreshPro Food Distributors ;
Kevin Carroll of Wonderful Citrus ;
Frank Ciammaruconi of Wakefern Food Corp .;
Dylan Dembeck of Minkus Family Farms ;
Phu Dinh of FreshPro Food Distributors;
Rachel Fabrizio of Four Seasons Produce ;
Michael Harwood of New York Apple Sales ;
Andrew Hernandez of LGS Specialty Sales ;
Brian Kenny of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Justin Kerner of Ballard Spahr LLP;
Mattie Leid of Hess Brothers Fruit Co. ;
Michael Paolino of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Annie Pape of Frank Donio Inc. ;
Gabrielle Procacci of Procacci Brothers Sales Corp .; and
Kelsey Rose of John Vena Inc.

New York Produce Show to cap — finally— this EPC Leadership Class

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:27:53 GMT

It’s been the longest year ever for participants of the 2021 Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class, who will be honored at the Dec. 15 New York Produce Show keynote breakfast.

That’s because their year-long program lasted two years, due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person gatherings. The 2020 class became the 2021 class.

EPC executive director Susan McAleavey Sarlund couldn’t wait to get these professionals, who are relatively new to the industry, into the warehouses, facilities and farms on the traditional field trip experiences and leadership seminars conducted by the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education.

“I’ve been in touch with all these experiences, and as soon as they felt comfortable having people there, it was back on the calendar,” Sarlund said.

The association is one of the organizations presenting the New York conference.

The EPC Leadership Program chooses as many as 20 up-and-coming produce professionals for each Leadership Class, a professional development experience for those with fewer than 10 years of experience in the industry.

Participants selected in this most recent program include:

Rich Arduini of FreshPro Food Distributors ;
Kevin Carroll of Wonderful Citrus ;
Frank Ciammaruconi of Wakefern Food Corp. ;
Dylan Dembeck of Minkus Family Farms;
Phu Dinh of FreshPro Food Distributors;
Rachel Fabrizio of Four Seasons Produce ;
Michael Harwood of New York Apple Sales ;
Andrew Hernandez of LGS Specialty Sales ;
Brian Kenny of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Justin Kerner of Ballard Spahr LLP;
Mattie Leid of Hess Brothers Fruit Co. ;
Michael Paolino of Wakefern Food Corp.;
Annie Pape of Frank Donio Inc. ;
Gabrielle Procacci of Procacci Brothers Sales Corp. ; and
Kelsey Rose of John Vena Inc .

During the tours and seminars, participants get to meet and hang out with other professionals from all aspects of the produce industry. They start a social network beyond their own companies that can help them grown professionally.

And the culmination of this exceptional, extra-long “yearlong” program will be at the live show, back in the heart of New York City.

Eastern Produce Council invites industry to barbecue with NJ produce updates

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:26:52 GMT

Expect some great fresh produce, barbecue meats and all the fixin’s at the annual New Jersey Department of Agriculture BBQ, hosted by Eastern Produce Council at Demarest Farms, Hillsdale, N.J.

The event starts with cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by the barbecue dinner and meeting at 7 p.m. May 24. Usually, leaders of several commodity organizations give updates on the season as it revs up.

The state agriculture department and Demarest Farms are sponsors.

Watch and read: video slide show and article on the 2021 BBQ.

The winner of the ninth annual James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation and EPC Scholarship 2022 will be announced.

This event will feature Jersey Fresh produce and other locally sourced food and beverages.

To register, visit easternproducecouncil.com . For more information, email easternproducecouncil@gmail.com or call 908-723-0645.

What to expect at the 2022 New York Produce Show

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:00:37 GMT

Timing is everything. And so are relationships.

The coming New York Produce Show will have both top of mind. Scheduled for Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, with the trade show on Dec. 1, the conference has shifted two weeks earlier this year, to fit snugly after Thanksgiving’s food rush and before late December’s holiday cooking.

That way, produce professionals can squeeze in the event with more ease. And growers, in the Northeast at least, have long stopped harvesting.

“Just after Thanksgiving is traditionally not as busy a time in the retail space, so it’s better for people’s schedules,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, executive director of Eastern Produce Council, which co-presents the show.

The show’s founder, Jim Prevor, died suddenly from heart failure in early November, sending shockwaves through the industry. Since then, leaders and friends have shared how well he made and cultivated friendships, his ability to weigh in on hefty industry issues with thoughtfulness and his commanding stage presence during conferences and presentations.

“Let us all take a page from his book and go forward with the 13th Annual New York Produce Show, keeping up the enthusiasm, hard though that will be without the guiding force of Jim.

We can honor him by making him proud that as the facilitator of this event, he gifted us with the ability to carry on when the loss of his presence leaves us all speechless,” Sarlund and Marianne Santo, Eastern Produce Council president, said in a statement. “Our goal should be to appreciate the gift of being together and cherish the time that we are able to spend with each other this year, keeping Jim and his family in our hearts.”

There will be a special tribute to Prevor at the show. As for the rest of the activities, it’s a similar game plan to last year.

“It’s going to be so strange without him, but the best thing we could do to honor Jim is to work hard to make it a great week. That’s how we all feel, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Sarlund told The Packer.

What to expect

Expect networking. Conference sessions. Industry tours. And, of course, the trade show.

You can also expect the show to be busier than last year’s event, which was one of the first handful of produce shows to return in-person after COVID-19 shut down large gatherings, especially indoors.

The bulk of the Tuesday to Friday conference starts with the opening cocktail reception Wednesday evening. The keynote breakfast follows Thursday morning, before the trade show floor opens at 10 a.m.

Educational micro-sessions will run throughout the show, which wraps up at 5 p.m.

And then on the final day, Friday, attendees can choose among five bus tours across the greater New York City metropolitan area: the city’s Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan boroughs, plus Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia.

The greater New York City area tours are all a bus ride away, exploring different markets and farms, from retail to wholesale to indoor agriculture.

All around Manhattan, N.Y.: Retailer tour
Newark, N.J.: New Jersey retailer and AeroFarms tour
Gowanus area, Brooklyn, N.Y.: Brooklyn retailers and urban agriculture tour
South Bronx, N.Y.: Hunts Point Produce Market
Philadelphia: Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and Wegmans

“I’ve focused on the New Jersey tour,” Sarlund said. “We go to some Seabra’s Market, a Portuguese store that caters to this demographic, and we’re going to go to a Whole Foods in Newark near AeroFarms headquarters.”

AeroFarms is a certified B Corporation and an indoor, vertical, aeroponic farming, sales and research company, as well as a co-founder of the CEA Alliance, which supports controlled environment agriculture.

The bus tour program launches from the New York Hilton hotel, the site for several conference events.

On Tuesday, people will gather at the hotel for the Foundational Excellence event, a “seminar catering to younger people in the industry,” Sarlund said.
The following day before the cocktail party, there will be a Global Trade Symposium, which draws produce leaders from around the world to discuss the intricacies of import and export in an ever-challenging world.

In 2021, New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball opened the trade show at the keynote breakfast and thought leaders panel, where 14 produce professionals filled seats on stage to answer questions.

At the breakfast, on the trade show floor and at educational micro-sessions, the common themes in 2021 discussions were flexibility, acceleration, supply chain solutions and labor.

What will the topics be this year?

An educated guess would be inflation, sustainability, organics, convenience and labor. Yep, it’s still labor. But who knows? Many other topics are sure to swirl from the showroom floor’s conversations.

On the last day of events, besides the bus tours, there will be the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum. Expect chefs to talk foodservice trends, analysts to discuss menus and restaurant business strategies, and other experts to cover school nutrition programs, health and what’s coming next.

New York Produce Show busier than 2021

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 22:40:33 GMT

NEW YORK — The aisles at the New York Produce Show Dec. 1 were packed with pedestrian traffic jams in some spots, but not at pre-pandemic cramped levels mirroring the city sidewalks during rush hour.

Still, almost all the exhibitor booths were populated by the companies that reserved them, and many produce professionals expressed satisfaction. Eastern Produce Council is a co-organizer of the conference.

“It’s been a surprisingly busy show, and very worthwhile,” said Pierre Dolbec, vice president of sales and supply at VegPro International , Sherrington, Quebec.

The industry themes of 2022 continued to be the topic of discussion at the show, from consumers’ demand for convenience, value and snacking to transparency, sustainability, social responsibility and functional health.

“We’ve heard as much about locally sourced as ever. People are asking, ‘what can we do regionally, locally?’” said Brian Reeves, president of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.

People talked about the lemonade apple, the kombucha drink that doesn’t taste like kombucha by Koe, the cardboard tomato packaging at NatureFresh and the innovative snacking opportunities created by Joolies .

They also discussed the importance of fresh-cut produce in produce department sales and efficiencies and automation to reduce the need for labor.

As usual, company leaders crossed the continent for the show.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Atlas Produce promoted its Sunnies Energy Bites, which are date balls with nut butter and cherry, banana or chocolate-espresso flavors.

“It’s all about healthy alternative snacking,” said Luke Fountain of Atlas Produce.

Tracy Simmonds, business manager of Affinity Sales, Depew, N.Y., stood at the Tasteful Selections by RPE booth and said the show’s timing was more convenient. It’s about two weeks sooner than it was in 2021.

“It’s been really busy here,” Simmonds said. “And it’s easier on our schedules that it’s earlier in December and right after Thanksgiving. I think that made a difference.”

Seen at Eastern Produce Council's annual gala

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:42:24 GMT

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Amid the white baby grand piano, dozens of chandeliers and a chocolate fountain, members of the Eastern Produce Council danced, mingled, nibbled and chatted with friends at EPC’s John J. Jay McAleavey Annual Gala.

The council’s largest fundraiser of the year was April 1 at the Westmount Country Club. The gala format has evolved the last few years, from a sit-down dinner to buffet tables and passed hors d’oeuvres with a casino night theme to this year’s rendition with The Beatles tribute band.

As the night wound down, EPC Executive Director Susan McAleavey Sarlund of the New York Apple Association chatted with Sander Daniels of Holt Logistics, EPC President Marianne Santo of Wakefern Food Corp., Lauren Mordasky of RPE-Tasteful Selections and TracyAnn Simmonds of Affinity Group.

(Farm Journal)

EPC members and their plus-ones buzzed about the cocktail hour. (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Gary and Danielle Roselli of Allegiance Retail Services (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Juliet Moran and Shanna Deegan of Suja Juice (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Lauren Mordasky of RPE-Tasteful Selections and Tom Paragham of Wakefern Food Corp. (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Marianne Santo of Wakefern Food Corp. and EPC president (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Michael and Susan Inver of Procacci Bros. (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Siloé and Charlotte Perez of Procacci Bros. (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Eastern Produce Council board of directors (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

Gala attendees (Photo: Amy Sowder)

(Farm Journal)

That piano and those chandeliers (Photo: Amy Sowder)

The Beatles tribute band headlines EPC’s biggest fundraiser

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:24:39 GMT

Northeastern retailers, growers, marketers and other produce professionals may soon be saying “I wanna hold your hand” in a handshake to each other, accompanied by some quite familiar tunes.

There will be no “Strawberry Fields,” but there will be a performance, Re-Live The Beatles: On-Stage Tribute Band, at Eastern Produce Council’s John J. McAleavey Annual Gala, April 1 at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J.

The live music follows an extended cocktail hour and dinner buffet from 7-9 p.m.

Guests will also enjoy a deejay, photo booths and a dessert extravaganza.

Related news: In 2022, the EPC gala was a casino-themed party

To purchase tickets, learn about sponsorships or to reserve an advertisement in the EPC’s annual Ad Journal, contact the EPC office at easternproducecouncil@gmail.com or (908) 723-0645.

This annual event is the main fundraising effort of the EPC, enabling the council to continue to support worthy causes and organizations in the produce industry and the community.

EPC Executive Director Susan McAleavey Sarlund’s father, John McAleavey, served the council as its executive director for 25 years. After he died in 2015, the event was named in his memory. This will mark the EPC’s 56th Annual Gala.

For more information, visit easternproducecouncil.com.

EPC celebrates annual gala with new format

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:51:42 GMT

The Eastern Produce Council celebrated its 53rd annual gala with a different format.

The John J. McAleavey Annual Gala April 6 at the Westmount Country Club, Woodland Park, N.J., featured casino games instead of a formal sit-down dinner. The ballroom was transformed into a casino, complete with black jack, craps and roulette tables, according to a news release.

More than 280 people were welcomed by EPC Executive Director Susan McAleavey Sarlund and Marianne Santo, senior category manager at Wakefern and president of the Eastern Produce Council.

The event also recognizes the EPC’s contributions to multiple charities throughout the year.