Collotti & Sons Inc. occupies units I-7 and I-8 at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market. The company took occupancy at the when the market opened in June 2011.

Jack Collotti, company president, told The Produce News that his two sons, John age 27, and Brian, age 25, now work full time at the company and they are continually taking on increasingly more responsibilities.

Mr. Collotti is the second generation, and he works with his brothers, Vince and Chris Collotti. The third generation is represented by sons of the three brothers.

A colorful display of fresh produce at Collotti & Sons in the PWPM.“The younger generation has been working here since they were kids,” said Mr. Collotti. “It’s very beneficial for them to now be able to work in this new cutting-edge facility. Product stays fresher longer, and shrinkage is down considerably. This is entirely due to the unbroken cold chain. Their future in the produce industry will be a lot different than the generations that preceded them because of this facility.”

He added that the building is a pleasure to work in because it is kept spotlessly clean, the environment makes for much safer working conditions and the unbroken cold storage and temperature control abilities increase the level of food safety.

“There is plenty of parking for customers and visitors, and the traffic is controlled,” said Mr. Collotti. “It’s an absolute pleasure working in this market.”

Collotti & Sons has been operating in Philadelphia for over 50 years. It carries a full line of western and eastern fruits and vegetables. And it carries all of the top brand names in the industry. The company also specializes in all categories of berries and from around the world.

Locally grown produce is also a focus at the company.

“We support local farmers and programs such as the ‘Jersey Fresh’ locally grown initiative,” said Mr. Collotti. “With fuel costs as high as they are today everyone benefits by handling as much regional produce as possible. We source from surrounding states in order to provide the freshest possible produce with the least food miles and consequent costs.

“But we also support growers in Canada and in Mexico,” he continued. “Our mission is to supply our customers with the best quality product, regardless of where it is grown.”

The Collotti and Sons’ sales team is highly experienced and provide high level service to fulfill its customers’ needs.

Mr. Collotti said that organic produce sales continue to have slow but steady recovery from the past few years of economic turmoil.

“We are feeling a stronger demand for organics as time passes, but it is a slow and steady growth,” he said. “We continually work on developing our organic line, but we take it step by step.”

Collotti & Sons distributes throughout the northeast and as far south as Virginia. Its customers include wholesalers, retailers, foodservice operators and industrial operations. Its primary focus is on customer service and delivering high-quality produce.

“Service is the primary goal in our company,” said Mr. Collotti. “There is plenty of competition in the produce industry, and service is the one place where we can be outstanding. Providing the best possible quality is imperative, of course, but we also bend over backwards for our customers.”