FreshPro Food Distributors in West Caldwell, NJ, is a well-known full line distributor and fresh cut processor which is certified to process and repack organics. Its organic history dates back to the 1980s.

Pat Mele III, executive vice president and chief financial officer for FreshPro, said it continues to grow and feature organic produce as well as its fresh cut business, both conventional and organic fresh cut.

“Our biggest change continues to be marketing our new name change,” said Mele. “However, the reception to the new name in the market place has been tremendously good. We are using our name change as an opportunity to reintroduce ourselves to many of our customers and suppliers who otherwise thought we are still the same old company as when started in business.”

FreshPro Food Distributors’ fresh cut organic Aqua Pak carrots and celery.FreshPro’s previous name was RLB Food Distributors. The new name is much more suited to the company’s culture in that it identifies two of its strengths — its ability to deliver fresh, high-quality perishable items, and its professionalism. And FreshPro has been a trademarked name for its processing division since the early 1990s.

Despite weather issues affecting many areas of the country this past winter and early spring, Mele said the company’s business has been strong.

“We hope the product availability will continue to be good,” he said. “There will always be gaps and over supply conditions as the deal moves up the coast, but the industry always deals with them.”

Food safety continues to be one of the most important programs for FreshPro.

“This is true for both our fresh cut program and our distribution business,” Mele pointed out. “Our comprehensive food-safety program is audited by a third party as well as by our customers. In addition, we have expanded our food-safety department to insure that we continue to be ahead of all compliance and safety issues.”

Fresh Pro is a major supporter of locally grown produce, including locally grown organics.

“When available we promote the items from all the states they are grown in,” said Mele.

“We understand that local means many things to many people. We support local growers and packers in New Jersey, New York and in Pennsylvania.”

FreshPro Food Distributors services a wide range of customers throughout the tri-state area, and is particularly strong with small chain and independent specialty store types that are high-quality operators known for high-quality perishables including produce.