Making Pompano Beach even better is the fact that the city, located in South Florida, is within three days reach of just about every major metropolitan area from Boston and New York in the northeast to Chicago and Minneapolis in the upper Midwest to Dallas and Houston in the southwest.
Yes, when it comes to produce, having an operation in Pompano Beach goes a long way to making sure that nearly two-thirds of the population of the United States is within relatively-easy reach of getting fresh produce to store shelves in pretty of time.
Of course, produce distributors are well aware of these facts. The area has been home to a number of produce packers, shippers and distributors over the years and remains a key area for the produce industry in the southeastern U.S. as it continues to expand domestically and internationally.
Perhaps most importantly is the fact that Pompano Beach is so close to the ports that bring in millions of tons of product from Latin America and South America, as well as some produce from Europe and Africa. The city lies just an hour north of the Port Miami, 30 minutes north of Port Everglades and 30 minutes south of the port in Palm Beach.
And, Interstate 95, the key roadway that connects south Florida with New England and all points in between, passes through the eastern part of the city.
The Florida Turnpike also runs through the city and connects with Interstate 75 that can run trucks through Georgia, Tennessee and into the upper Midwest.
Charlie Eagle, the vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, which is headquartered in Pompano Beach, called the area a great place to operate in and noted that the location reduces transit times for products entering South Florida. By being north of the congested Miami/Dade area, having distribution centers in Pompano Beach makes it easier for the company’s transportation partners to start moving product throughout the country.
City officials realize what they have with these produce companies operating withing their borders and do everything they can to make the city more hospitable to these types of operations.
The Edward L. Myrick State Farmers’ Market, which began around 1940 and was renamed after the founder of Myrick Produce in 2016 is just one example. The market is one of a dozen state farmers markets operated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Each market offers attendant services such as produce refrigeration, truck weigh scales, packinghouses, coolers, offices, restaurants and produce shipping companies. Each farmers market also offers produce and freight shipping companies to help move product. “Through volume production and marketing, effective competition is ensured for both small and large growers and buyers,” the department stated on its website.
Sandra King, a strategic communications administrator for the city of Pompano Beach, said that more companies should consider the city for their businesses, calling it a “win-win for everyone involved.”
Besides having a lot of room for new operations, such as distribution centers, she says the climate, beaches and overall business-friendly environment of Pompano Beach makes the city a great place to operate in.
