Not only are officials at Consalo Family Farms eager to show their wares at the upcoming Southeast Produce Council Southern Exposure show, but they are just as excited to talk to attendees about the company’s long and successful history as a grower of many types of produce. 

The fourth-generation Vineland, NJ-based business is approaching its 100th year and company officials are clear that its success has been driven by the strength of its execution. 

“Our sales are earned by our ability to be highly responsive to customer needs, maintain full control of our supply chain and deliver consistently exceptional quality across our core categories, including blueberries, wet vegetables, herbs, cooking greens, salad items, grapes and citrus,” said president AJ Consalo. “That foundation is supported by reliable, year-round availability through a combination of domestic farming and global partnerships.” 

Consalo emphasized that what sets Consalo Family Farms apart from others is the level of accountability that the company maintains from source-to-shelf. “All product is managed in-house through our central facility, allowing us to inspect, cool, pack and ship with no third-parties involved,” he noted. “This infrastructure has also allowed us to expand on private label and custom packaging programs. As we look ahead, we see opportunity to continue building through continued organic growth, packaging innovation, and deeper collaboration with retailers.” 

Consalo officials have always maintained that Southern Exposure is one of the most important relationship-building events of the year for the operation. Consalo said that the company’s strategy is centered on meaningful, face-to-face conversations, reconnecting with long-time partners and engaging with new ones about the season ahead. “We invite attendees to visit us at booth No. 631 to talk through upcoming programs, market trends and opportunities for collaboration,” he added. “Our goal is to create an environment that’s welcoming, informative and showcases the quality of our produce and brand identity. 

While Consalo said that the company’s focus remains on its core product categories, Southern Exposure is also an opportunity for company officials to highlight areas where they are seeing continued growth and investment. 

“We are especially excited about the expansion of our organic program, the ongoing development of our private label and custom packaging capabilities and the momentum behind our jumbo blueberry program introduced last year,” Consalo said. “We are also looking ahead to the upcoming New Jersey season, including the continued expansion of our New Jersey-grown bagged romaine hearts, offered in both organic and conventional. We look forward to discussions around regional and local opportunities and how we can continue aligning supply with evolving consumer demand.”

So, what does Consalo hope his team gets out of the show this year and what does he hope visitors to the booth get out of their visit?

“SEPC is a chance for us to gain fresh perspective from customers, partners and peers across the industry,” he said. “We value the opportunity to exchange ideas, better understand emerging trends and continue evolving as a fourth-generation farming family. We hope visitors to our booth walk away feeling they had productive and open conversations about what’s next and how we can grow together long term.

In the end, it is all about continuing the company’s success well into its second century in business and to continue to develop strong relationships with the trade that benefits everyone. 

“The future is bright for both Consalo Family Farms and the industry as a whole,” Consalo noted. “With nearly a century of experience, we believe long-term success comes from continued reinvestment in our farms, facilities, technology, and most importantly, our people. By staying adaptable and remaining grounded in our core values, we’re well positioned to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the marketplace.”