Bushwick Commission finds success in local markets

The year 1934 wasn’t a particularly great time to start a business, but like all families of the time, the Koondel family did what it needed to do to survive. They also found a way to thrive by doing what they did best and serving their community. That was the start of the Bushwick Commission.

From their original produce stands and push carts in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, to the full-service supplier offering daily delivery up and down the East Coast, Bushwick continues to be focused on the value of providing locally grown produce to retail customers of all sizes looking for fresh foods that give their customers the sustainable choices they desire.  

Ken Gray, vice president of sales and marketing for Bushwick, is a member of the fourth generation to carry on the family legacy and he is focused on the same kind of service and quality that the business and reputation was built on from Day One. He admits that although there are more needs for technology, sustainability, merchandising solutions and new varieties, today’s consumer is still looking for good quality and good value, especially during the current inflationary period where consumers are feeling the pain of higher prices.

From the dark days of the Great Depression to 9/11 to a global pandemic and now a possible recession, Bushwick isn’t worried. “Regardless of what is happening in the world people need to eat, and potatoes and onions, which are at the core of our business, have always provided an excellent value,” said Gray. “In addition, our focus on locally grown allows us to provide fresh vegetables direct from our growers as far north as Maine to mid-Atlantic areas like Virginia and service retailers up and down the Atlantic coast with daily deliveries.”

Today, with input costs on the rise and logistics challenges mounting, the locally grown program that Bushwick provides offers assurances to buyers who are looking for supply chain security and the ability to manage costs. With an important item like potatoes and onions, consistency is the key in maintaining category performance and offering cost savings on transportation with reduced food miles.

In fact, the reality of food miles is just part of Bushwick’s commitment to sustainability. The company continues to work with every Bushwick grower to identify sustainability solutions that improve their environmental impact and reduce their overall carbon footprint. And it has begun benchmarking all areas of production and packing operations while also pursuing more environmentally friendly packaging.

If retailers are looking for a success-minded partner ready to deliver community solutions, they should look no farther than Bushwick Commission. Bushwick is ready and able to delivery omnichannel marketing solutions to deliver sales while also being a key locally grown supply partner.