Mark Levin, chief executive officer of M. Levin & Co., located on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, stands more strongly than ever on the words he said to The Produce News shortly after the new facility opened for business in June 2011: “If I were a box of produce, the PWPM is where I’d want to be.”

Since moving to the new building the company has diversified, especially in its deliveries.

“We can do more by expanding a little outside of our current range,” said Levin. “But in doing so we had to consider the transportation issues, which are always a challenge. But more people want to buy from us since we moved to the new market, and they’re requesting that we deliver. We think the right move is to take steps to going back to delivering again.

Five years ago the company had six straight trucks and 10 trailers on the road. Three years ago it dropped to two trucks and 10 trailers. Today it’s back up — and this time to eight trucks and 10 trailers. Levin said that he will continue to increase the fleet until he is satisfied that he can best service all of his customers.

M. Levin & Co. is a full-line produce distributor. It sources from around the world and distributes from Virginia to Toronto and west to Ohio, and it ships some produce into New York City.

“Our commodity list contains about 900 items,” said Levin. “Some we sell 10 packages of in a week and others we sell by the truckloads.”

He acknowledged the toll the cold winter took on the food industry.

“The market went through a rough winter, but we’re produce people and we’re survivors,” said Levin. “When a hard winter like this hits, everyone cuts back a little. Now we’re looking forward to warm weather and a great remainder of the year.”

M. Levin’s state-of-the-art banana-ripening rooms employ the latest technology. And since moving to the new market, they have gotten a real workout because as fast as they are filled, they are empty again.

“We are toying with the idea of expansion on the market for more banana-ripening rooms,” said Levin.

The company has been in business for 109 years, and going strong. Levin is a third-generation family member, and he works side-by-side with his cousins, David Levin, Michael Levin and Joel Segel. Every generation until now has been only men. But the fourth generation has now joined the firm, and it is all women.

Tracie Levin, Mark Levin’s daughter, is general manager responsible for operations management and food safety among other initiatives. Sarah Levin, David’s daughter, is involved in the banana-ripening program. Margie Levin-Fischman, Michael’s daughter, is in tropical sales and foodservice, and Brenda Segel, Joel’s daughter, is in inventory control.

Now there is even more excitement unfolding in the Levin family. Tracie Levin is engaged to Ryan Miller. The couple is planning an October wedding, so the family is busy putting plans for the event together.

Levin acknowledged that the demand for local produce is stronger than ever.

“We enjoy hearing the word ‘local’ because it means that everything is coming out of our own backyards and is super fresh,” said Levin. “But there is still not enough to fill the huge demand, and there is also the issue of what local means. If you’re eating a banana, what defines local?

“Everyone wants to leave a good footprint,” he continued. “But that reality doesn’t always go hand in hand with economics.”

Levin is seeing more independent retailers in the region opening up stores in areas that were lacking in fresh produce.

“This is a nice trend,” he said. “The people who operate these stores get to know the people that they’re selling to, and they become highly educated about the companies they are buying from. From a social-economic view, they are staying competitive with major chains. It also goes hand-in-hand with the local trend for consumers to try to support their community stores.”