E. Armata, a fourth-generation family run fruit and vegetable wholesaler completed a major renovation project at its location on Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx, NY, last November.

“It was a major renovation and was also done in an expedient manner,” Paul Armata, vice president of the company, told The Produce News. “We broke ground on the project last April. It was a major gutting and rebuilding from the ground up.”

The project was planned and begun months before it was announced that Hunts Point had negotiated a seven-year lease extension with the City of New York.

“We undertook this project because we feel strongly that we need to supply our growers, shippers and customers with a facility that matches the quality of our produce and our service,” said Armata.

E. Armata has 21 units in rows A and C, and a separate building adjacent to the market that is used for warehousing and tomato repacking. Its warehouse and refrigeration space accounts for over 60,000-square-feet.

Two years ago, it purchased the adjacent Albee Tomato Co. units 118-120 on row A, increasing its unbroken cold chain from units 111 to 120 on the row.

The company’s four units on row C were renovated seven years ago. The company, in business for over 100 years, holds major significance on the market.

“The rebuild focused on us having the most organized, efficient, temperature-controlled and spotless environment,” said Armata. “The warehouses are sparkling clean and we feature a cold chain compliant design to keep produce at the proper temperature.”

He explained that the rear of the store has insolated and sealed doors so when product is received it goes directly into the refrigerated facility.

The new warehouse features location markers and numbered doors and aisles to maintain total efficiency for its shippers and employees so that customers are serviced expediently.

The multiple warehouses now feature state-of-the-art refrigeration and real-time inventory control.

“Our customer base has been loyal and steady for many years, and we continually take on new customers,” said Armata. “We are always doing whatever is in our power to project ourselves in a way that draws new customers. Our strong reputation for offering the best-quality produce and the highest level of service is now enhanced by the newly rebuilt facility.

“Our ability to streamline our efficiencies means that product comes in, gets taken off the trucks, is checked for quality and goes back out —without breaking the cold chain,” he added.

The company strongly values its sourcing partners and works closely with them to do a great job. Armata said the newly built facility helps to serve them on the level that they deserve.

Customers coming into the facility are highly impressed with the ease and clarity with which they can move about and find what they are looking for.

“We handle the best fresh produce available in the world, and our facility reflects how precious it must be handled for the sake of growers, distributors, customers and end-users alike,” Armata added.

Armata said the past winter was hard and long, but the ability to service customers in a temperature-controlled environment was a tremendous relief.

“Even prior to our renovation we were sticklers about being clean and organized,” said Armata. “Our guys make a real effort to ensure that we’re always tidy, which is what customers want when they’re buying. And our rear platforms are cleaned as thoroughly as our front ones.”

The tough winter made for a tough season for everyone, but Armata said that the produce industry, including his own company, is not in the storage business. It’s about freshness and keeping product moving constantly.

“There were some tough deals, but we got through the harsh months and now we’re looking forward to steady business,” he said.

Paul Armata, Chris’ brother, is the company president. Other family members now working in the business include his sons, Nicholas and Michael Armata, both sales representatives and Chris’ daughter, Chelsea Armata, who handles human resources. But Armata also credits the company’s staff, noting, “We have an outstanding team who deserve a tremendous amount of credit for our success in the past and looking forward into our future.”

He also said that the company’s berry program continues to grow and that it now offers all berry categories on a year-round basis.

“We will continue to maintain our status as we head into the future,” he said.