Rick Milavsky, president, secretary and treasurer of BRS Produce Co. Inc., told The Produce News that the company continues to handle a full line of fruits and vegetables, and it places a particularly strong focus on tomatoes, mushrooms and a tropical line that is growing strongly. Milavsky works along with his father, Ron Milavsky, who serves as the company’s vice president. BRS was among the original tenants at the new Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market when it opened in June 2011. It occupies units D-2, D-3 and D-4.

“We handle mixed vegetables out of California, and all leafy products from just about every area where they are produced,” said Milavsky. “We follow the eastern coastline seasonal production movement from Florida to New Jersey, as well as product produced in Ohio, Texas and Mexico.”

The rough cold winter that delivered near-continual snow storms was hard on everyone in the Northeast. Milavsky agrees that weather conditions resulted in some days of business being cut.

“Things typically quiet down somewhat during the winter,” he said. “But we’re now heading into our busiest months, which are May through July. Business always picks up strongly in the spring and summer, and we’re looking forward to good seasons ahead. We started strong when we first moved into the new facility, and business has stayed strong and grown ever since.”

BRS Produce’s customer base profile has remained about the same categorically since it moved from the old Dock Street market location, but Milavsky said that the company has picked up new customers since moving.

“Word continues to spread about the great things we can now offer, such as the unbroken cold chain,” he explained. “This increases the integrity of fresh produce, which means that we can stretch sales out a little longer. We are able to handle merchandise more efficiently here. The facility is spotless and overall the result is that more people want to buy from us here.”

Customers, he added, express how pleased they are with the loading and unloading processes at the new facility, and once they have the basic instructions, they get in and out of the terminal without a hitch.

“It is definitely a lot easier to load and unload here,” Milavsky added. “It is much more convenient for buyers to pick up their merchandise. It is a great pleasure to work from the new PWPM.”

BRS Produce ships within an approximate 100-mile radius of the PWPM. It services the Atlantic City and New York City areas, south to Baltimore and Washington, DC, and west to Harrisburg, PA. Its customers are mostly foodservice wholesalers that supply hotels, casinos and industrial operations. It also sells to small chain retailers. And it is a strong supporter of locally grown initiatives.

Milavsky agrees with other merchants on the market who say that more independent retailers are opening up in the region — especially in places that previously did not have fresh produce available. This trend is hand-in-hand with the locally grown and sustainable trends in that consumers want to help support their own community businesses.

When the company opened its doors at PWPM, BRS Produce took on a new tropical division. It hired Ed Barba to oversee the division.

“It’s going very well,” said Milavsky. “Ed is doing a good job and the line is growing.”

Milavsky said the company follows all of the required food-safety protocols. “As do our shippers,” he noted. “Documentation is available to present to our buyers at all times.”

He acknowledges that there are always issues and challenges in the produce industry, just as in any industry. But then he pointed out, “Just look around this facility. It’s a perfect place to handle fresh produce. This terminal market is really sharp. It’s really neat to be the first in the world with such a cutting-edge facility.”