“We recently formed a new registered trademark — ‘Fresher by Miles,’” Bill Nardelli, president of Nardelli Bros. Inc., in Cedarville, NJ, told The Produce News.

“The name exemplifies the message that we want to get across to consumers; we harvest today and it reaches the stores by tomorrow. And it includes the food-safety guidelines that we employ in our company. Today’s consumers want this information.”

Last June, Nardelli Bros. opened a facility in Plant City, FL.

“Scott Sestack, who is a highly seasoned veteran, is the director of sales and purchasing at the Florida facility,” said Nardelli. “With our 12-month-a-year chain business growing strongly and steadily, we needed to expand our line to all states between New Jersey and Florida, which coincides with our new trademarked name. The Florida facility is already proving to be an important growth strategy for our company. This year we have a presence in every area between here and Florida because we move geographically with the seasons with outstanding local growers. That provides our retailer partners with many opportunities.”

He noted that the seasons all along the East Coast have been affected by one weather issue or another and are off their normal schedules. New Jersey is running from 10 days to about two weeks late.

“Delays are running from Georgia all the way north,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of product coming on when it normally doesn’t from some areas and significant gaps in others due to wet or cold planting conditions. The up side is that every region should have a window that doesn’t overlap with others.”

Nardelli also pointed out that even with good weather the cost of growing greens have risen, causing some growers, especially south of New Jersey, to reduce production.

“Prices overall are up because there is less supply,” he said. “The family farmer is almost an endangered species today due to the high cost of production. Those who don’t have a large presence in the market can’t afford the huge investment. This has also caused some companies to consolidate and produce for larger companies. We’ve incorporated many of these farmers into our operation, which helps them to continue to farm.”

Nardelli explained that at one time there were hundreds of farmers in the Cedarville and Vineland areas of New Jersey, but the numbers are dwindling over time.

The next generation joined Nardelli Bros. a couple of years ago when Bill Jr. started working full time after graduating. Nardelli’s younger son, Jimmy, works at the company when he’s not in school, also at the University of Delaware. He plans to join the company full time when he graduates in spring 2015.

“Bill Jr. has expanded our business by bringing us into a new age of high technology,” said Nardelli. “He is doing an outstanding job for our company in this aspect. Jimmy is more of an outdoorsman, and so his interests lie stronger in the farming end. They make a great team. I have to give the credit to my wife, Sandy, for making sure they both had great educations and turned out to be the young men that we are incredibly proud to have as sons.”

In lieu of Bill Jr. and Jimmy joining the company, it has turned one of its older warehouses into new office space and installed a kitchen for the family to share when they’re working.

The company’s rapid growth has also resulted in an increase in staff members. And it is in the process of buying another packing facility, which should be finalized in the next couple of months.

“We’ve not yet signed, but all details look to be in order,” said Nardelli.

“The facility will be a little more mechanized, and we hope to be on line there in July or August. It’s a great facility with increased cooler space that will enable us to segregate product as well as increase our loading capacity. Once we’re on line there, and both of my sons are here helping with the operation, we expect to only continue strong growth heading into the future.”