With winds at more than 70 miles per hour, the Blizzard of 2015 slammed New England with a major punch on Monday and into Tuesday.

The storm was as ruthless to New England as it was kind to New York City and regions farther south, which only got a light dusting of snow as it passed through on Monday.

By Tuesday Massachusetts was buried in snow, with predictions of more snow into Wednesday morning.While the Blizzard of 2015 failed to live up to its name in some regions, New England was slammed with snow, which is piled high in this parking lot outside the Boston Market Terminal. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Piazza)

Susan Tavilla oversees California produce for family-owned-and-operated Tavilla Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA. She said that on Sunday the center’s board of directors voted to close Monday night, which constituted Tuesday's business.

“With that in mind, many customers bumped up their orders for Monday,” said Tavilla. “On Tuesday, Market basket, a large Northeast retail chain, closed for business. Most other businesses also closed.”

Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker called for a state of emergency and closed roads to non-essential persons as of Monday at midnight. The ban was in effect for 24-hours.

“Although we are at work tonight (Tuesday for Wednesday business), not all trucks made it in as so many roads are closed in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts,” said Tavilla. “Things are slow because many businesses were closed and people were not allowed to drive.”

She added that she feels that business will be strong on Thursday as people are back in their vehicles, businesses are open and everyone tries to get back to a normal routine.

“I think closing the market Monday night was the right thing to do,” added Tavilla. “No trucks would have arrived due to the ban, and it was important to get the NEPC plowed out properly.”

Tommy Piazza, clerk of corporation for Community-Suffolk Inc. at the adjacent Boston Market Terminal, told The Produce News, “We got hammered. It was insane. The top and bottom of the French doors in my bedroom on Cape Ann buckled from the wind and snow was coming inside.”

The company waited until noon on Monday, when the governor issued the state of emergency, to decide to close.

“Orders were still coming in as late as noon, and we were holding people in our warehouse to make deliveries,” Piazza said. “We worked until late, and we moved a lot of product.”

When Piazza drove to work this morning only plows and police cars were on the streets, and the snow was still falling.

“Today will be an early one,” he noted. “We missed one full day, and today we’re seeing only about 20 percent of our customers. That’s another hit. Tomorrow should be a jam-up day. But does it average out? You never really make up for a lost day, so yeah, there’s a financial hit.

“Produce people are a special breed,” he continued. “We have never closed before. Everyone in the market is here working today.”

He added that the maintenance crew at Boston Market Terminal did an outstanding job at getting the market cleaned up.

“They worked for two straight days, and the market was immaculate when we got in this morning,” said Piazza. “They’re about to fall over from exhaustion, but the market is as clean as a whistle.”

“The storm was predicted for eastern Massachusetts starting Saturday, so we had plenty of warning,” said Peter John Condakes, president of Peter Condakes Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center. “By Monday the forecast was for 20 to 30 inches of snow. The center’s board of directors decided to close the market for Tuesday, which is the first time the market had ever been officially closed for a storm.”

He added that the decision to close the market was rendered moot by the decision of the governors of Connecticut and Massachusetts to close all roads, except for emergency vehicles.

“The market is open today with many employees and customers unable to come in because they are still trying to shovel out,” said Condakes. “On Monday, in anticipation of the storm, we were very busy. Today, business is rather slow, which is to be expected.”