A specialist in the fresh radish business, Miedema Produce Inc. in Byron Center, MI, is in its second season of marketing two fresh pre-cut radish products.

Todd Miedema, director of marketing for the firm, said the two “For You”-brand items are “Radish MatchStixx”-brand and “Radish Chips.”

The MatchStixx are cut lengthwise into radish sticks to “add a little crunchy zest to your salad, sandwich and side dishes,” according to a promotion piece, Furthermore, the product offers “distinctive flavor and texture; excellent as a garnish, too!” Miedema added that the MatchStixx are great in tacos.

The variegated-cut radish chips are described by Miedema Produce as “dippers, snackers, sandwich picker-uppers and a fresh look for a garnish. The cut brings out more surface area for your taste buds with an eye-appealing presentation. A healthy alternative to everyday chips for dips; we did the work and you get the credit.” The crinkle-cut radishes are also good in salads, Miedema noted.

He told The Produce News that the new products have shown “outstanding” quality and consistency. They have been very well received by customers, he said.

“They help round out our product line. We are one of the larger grower-packer-shippers of radishes in the country. In this day and age with the demand for convenience, this is a good value-added product to make it easier for customers,” Miedema said.

In addition to the two new precut items, Miedema continues to offer traditional radish packages.

On the operational side of the business, food-safety matters and the impact of high health insurance costs are receiving the attention of Miedema Produce.

“Food safety is nothing new and we’ve had ongoing programs,” Miedema said. “But constantly the bar is getting higher. The standards are being raised and things are always changing. But we are moving forward and we are concerned with food safety. We are on the front edge and want to remain there. We always do all we can to assure we have the safest practices and we demonstrate that to our customers.”

At the same time, “health insurance is a very frustrating, expensive thing. It’s going to cost jobs. Companies like us will automate as much as we can. We are on a very aggressive program to automate and eliminate jobs. If we don’t, I’ll pay a lot more money and our competition in the next country, well, you know the wages south of the border. As the minimum wage [in the U.S.] rises, jobs will go elsewhere or food prices will go up. We as businesses have got to deal with it and keep doing what we do and keep moving forward.”

Miedema Produce is a year-round supplier of radishes, turnips and other root crops. It also handles a wide line of Michigan vegetables.

As far as the Michigan deal is concerned, the 2014 crops were “doing well” as of June 6. “We were a little late with the weather conditions but it’s been very good. The crops are in very good shape. We’ve had adequate moisture and good temperatures. I’d just as soon have it stay this way,” he said.

The radish harvest was in full swing in early June. Michigan’s turnip harvest was to begin in mid-June. Leafy lettuce was to begin around June 25 and, for Miedema, zucchini harvest was to arrive around July 1.

Celery, “which is big in Michigan,” will start around July 7-10, “and the rest of the veg will begin in the third week of July,” he said.