“This year we plan to start on June 11, working Wednesdays and Fridays only until July 2,” Calvin Musser, market manager for Laurel Farmers’ Auction Market in Laurel, DE, told The Produce News.

“Then, on July 7, we move to a six-day-a-week operation until approximately Sept. 5. Product is running a little late along the entire East Coast due to the cool and wet spring,” Musser added.

Laurel Farms is an auction market in the truest sense. It is a cooperative with 10 members. For 74 years, it operated as a pen and paper operation. This year, for the first time, it has upgraded to a computer system.

“We’re moving from three carbon copies of hand-written sales slips and receipts to a fully computerized system,” said Musser. “The computer system will help us to be more effective and efficient, and it will enable us to get more exposure. We handle a large variety of local produce and the computer system will help to entice people to come to buy our produce.”

This is also in timing with other changes at the auction. Last year, the auction market developed a bin and large box lot area that is 60- by 100-foot. This was a major improvement because it meant that sellers can put their products in the areas and the Laurel Farms can sell it the next day, thus eliminating the need for drivers to sit in their trucks burning gas as they wait their turn to have their products auctioned.

“The introduction of the new bin and box lot area had a major impact on our business,” Musser noted. “It enabled us to increase our sales volume by 30 percent over the previous year.”

Laurel Farmers’ Auction Market is centrally located, enabling it to service the entire Mid-Atlantic region. And its abilities enable it to service a wide range of customers.

“We can handle anything from a box lot to a tractor-trailer load,” said Musser. “And we can fill any size order: be it a consumer who wants a box of tomatoes to a retailer who needs a truckload of watermelons. The quality of produce we handle is outstanding, and we can handle unlimited volumes.”

Fruits and vegetables grown in the Eastern Shore and adjacent regions are distributed to all areas east of the Mississippi River and into Canada. It services food banks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Laurel Farmers’ Auction Market is also a major and well-known hub for watermelons of all varieties and sizes. Musser said the watermelon season there will be in full swing by July 15.

“Some of our buyers have repacking services,” said Musser. “We are always looking for new distributors to come to the market. We currently have seven distributors, and six packing facilities that pack, load and deliver.”

The company is adding an order buyer to its staff this season which will help customers who don’t have the time to physically come to the auction market. They can merely place their orders and then have their product picked up.

“Our entire operation is set up to entice wholesalers, foodservice operators, independent retailers, local farmers markets and small chain retail operations,” said Musser. “We think we’re doing things right because many customers who bought from the market years ago but then moved on have been inspired to return.

“We truly want to know what we can do to better service our customers, and so we ask,” he continued. “We have the best quality locally grown produce, and we can handle requests of any volume.”