Fresh from the Start adds Indiana broccoli to its lineup
Fresh from the Start adds Indiana broccoli to its lineup
Fresh from the Start expanded its broccoli program with new acreage in Indiana, shipping crowns and bunches. This acreage will begin harvesting in late May, right before the start of its Maine broccoli summer crop.
In recent years, Fresh from the Start has added acreage in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, and now Indiana joins the lineup in 2024.
“We are always looking for ways to provide broccoli domestically at good rates for our customers year-round,” said Eric Scannelli, vice president at Fresh from the Start, which is based in Westhampton, NY. “Growing more acreage in the United States allows us to better plan and monitor our crops. With this additional acreage we can continue to get the product from the farm to the customer within 48 hours. The Midwest has farmable land at reasonable costs and we are excited to be growing in this part of the country.”
FFTS’s broccoli deal now moves from Georgia and South Carolina in April and May to Indiana in late May through end of June followed by Maine from July through October, providing a steady flow of product.
Over the last few years, Fresh from the Start has tripled its broccoli acreage and is now the largest grower of East Coast broccoli, according to Scannelli.
“Proactively finding more land to grow on and meeting with grower partners has been a primary mission for us these last few years, not just with broccoli but with berries, carrots and onions to name a few,” Scannelli said. “We are always looking ahead and anticipating our customers’ needs.”