Nardelli Bros. Inc.-Lakeview Farms is a fifth-generation family business that has been around for more than 120 years. It’s the hard work of the family that has kept it prospering for so long.

In 2022, though costs were very concerning, the company had an “excellent year,” according to Bill Nardelli Sr., president of the Cedarville, NJ-based company.

Southern Specialties has a produce portfolio that includes baby squash, baby carrots and other baby vegetables, as well as broccolettes and clipped greens, all available under the company’s Southern Selects label.  

Its main Southern Selects product is asparagus, which it grows, imports and markets in bulk presentations for retail and foodservice and is available in conventional, organic and in value-adding offerings in a variety of pack sizes.

Florida produce is so good that it isn’t just popular in the Sunshine State, it’s renowned the world over. One key organization that is committed to supporting Florida’s growers is the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, which is the state’s leading full-service specialty crop organization.

Since 1943, the FFVA has promoted an array of crops, including vegetables, citrus, tropical fruit, berries, and more, with the mission to enhance Florida’s produce business and foster a competitive environment for producing and marketing these crops.

The floral industry came together once again for the 2022 Floriexpo convention in Miami Beach, FL, from June 7 to June 9. The three-day show led off with educational sessions. Data from the Floral Marketing Fund was highlighted by Derek Woodruff, owner of Floral Underground, who outlined key decision-making points from the FMF study, citing that the amount consumers are willing to spend has increased in the recent year.

R.C. Hatton Farms operates an 8,000-acre farm located beside Lake Okeechobee on the eastern shore of Pahokee, FL, an area well known for offering some of the most fertile “black gold” in the United States.

Paul Allen, co-owner and president of the company, describes the landscape as perfect for anything and everything that it grows— including green beans, corn and sugar cane among others. In fact, when talking Florida-grown spring produce, there’s virtually no one with as much experience.

Throughout these past two challenging years, Mr. Greens Produce has managed to succeed and maintain its outstanding reputation in the produce industry. According to CEO Nick Politis, the goal for 2022 has been to continue moving forward entering a post-COVID-19 world.