“The quality of products has been good, it’s been a little spotty for supplies, but for the most part, things have been very well,” Nardelli said. “We’ve had a lot of uncertainty, like everyone in the world right now with politics and how things are going to get settled or not settled, so that creates some apprehension, but for the most part, we’ve seen a lot of this come and go, and ups and downs, and we just roll with the punches.”
He feels Nardelli Bros. is in a good position being on the East Coast, which helps it have good supplies pretty consistently.
In Florida, where the company started in the ’60s with a brokerage office in Pompano, Nardelli Bros. has expanded a great deal.
“As business has evolved, it’s become critical and important to supply our customers on a year-round basis,” Nardelli said. “That necessitated us going to Florida and raising product there. We have some very good partners that are receptive to helping us fulfil our needs in the wintertime when we finish up here. That’s evolved from Florida up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas.”
When the weather gets too hot there, they rely on Nardelli Bros. to fill some of their needs.
“Florida has a luxury in the wintertime, if Mother Nature cooperates, to compete with only a few areas,” Nardelli said. “In New Jersey, when we are in full harvest, I am competing with a lot of areas that are producing some of the same commodities. Florida can narrow the field on things like pepper and cucumbers and squash, and a lot of the greens.”
Looking at the state of the industry, Nardelli noted labor is one of the significant things on his radar.
“The H-2A programs have been helpful, but the immigration situation and the labor force throughout the country is going to be making some changes. We really need an immigration policy that works and is a little less cumbersome and gives us the opportunity to have some ag labor. These people want to work and they are great people, and we want to freely have them here in this country. There’s not enough local people to harvest field crops.”
Recently, the company converted and put in all-new computer systems and software.
“My son is looking at developing more of the AI technology here for things,” Nardelli said. “The most critical thing right now is being able to track everything, and we have a great tracking system in place from field to the consumer that’s been very helpful. We are looking at integrating it to see if there are some steps to make it faster and less cumbersome for paperwork.”
Looking long-term, Nardelli is very optimistic about what’s ahead.
“Equal trade in the world will benefit the American worker and there are many facets of production that are suited to be produced in this country,” he said. “We have very good partners around the world, but the United States should be able to be self-sufficient for many of the things this country relies on for its own population.”
