“We have definitely been processing a lot of kale since this trend began, and this fall we’ll be processing organic kale,” John Gates, president of Lancaster Foods LLC in Jessup, MD, told The Produce News. “People see the health benefits, and the media continues to promote it strongly. When an old-turned-new item comes into high demand, we just ride the wave.”

He pointed out that besides cooking it and enjoying kale chips, a lot of kale is being used in popular health smoothies.

Lancaster also processes collard, mustard and turnip greens, or what the company refers to as “bunched” greens. It uses the “Glory Greens” label, which is under an agreement with C.H. Robinson, and also uses its own “Lancaster Fresh” brand.

John Gates, president of Lancaster Foods, proudly displays a selection of the company’s popular processed items.“Our produce focus on retail consumer packaging includes tray-pack overwrap and clamshells,” said Gates. “Now consumers can open a bag of cooking spinach or other greens that are ready-to-cook as opposed to having to buy these products in bulk and spend the time and effort to clean and cut the product.”

Gates said the company continues to find niches in both the retail and foodservice sector in fresh cut. It processes a full line of organic, specialty, and conventional products. The firm has a cutting-edge, totally refrigerated and temperature-controlled 240,000-square-foot cross-dock facility which Gates said is “just on the other side of the fence” from the Maryland Wholesale Produce Market.

“We also offer many varieties of tomatoes,” said Gates. Our tomato program includes vine-ripened, tomatoes-on-the-vine, hydroponics, Romas, mature green, cherry and custom packaged tomatoes. And we handle specialty varieties like yellow, orange and pear tomatoes.”

Being an expert in processing is alone a strong niche. Gates explained that it is expensive for customers to do, and food safety is always a concern.

“We invest strongly in food safety, and consumers have proven that they want safe and convenient food,” he said. “Cut fruits and vegetables is one fastest growing segments in fresh produce. The market is always looking to us for anything new.

“Whether it’s kebabs or zucchini squash cut into planks, chunks or coins, we offer a full spectrum of locally grown produce in a wide variety of formats,” he continued.

“And our company is backed up by strong logistics. Every package that goes out of Lancaster is dated and is in our distributor-customer warehouses in 12 to 15 hours, and what our customers really want is high quality and great shelf life.”

The fewer food miles associated with local produce has become a strong focus of retailer and foodservice operators alike. Lancaster is working on identifying its locally grown produce through stickers on packages and signage at the store level.

Gates said that tropicals in fresh cut continue to be hot items, and the full melon category also remains strong.

“Retailers are trying to appease consumers in their demographic areas so we’re selling lot of ethnic items, and some stores are setting up displays that appeal to the ethic population,” he added.

Food safety and traceability have always been at the forefront of importance at Lancaster Foods.

Gates said the company switched to SQF last year as its audit format because it’s is better known than its previous British Retail Consortium.

“SQF is a little tougher, primarily because of the paperwork and it has a robust inspection criterion,” Gates noted. “But it is the most widely accepted. And we are still under the GFSI [Global Food Safety Initiative].”

Lancaster Foods is continually making improvements and updates to its cutting-edge facility. In the past year, it added two additional processing lines to accommodate its value-added growth.

Logistically, Lancaster Foods has expanded tremendously over the years.

“Today we are concentrating on the Southeast, all the way into Florida, the mid-Atlantic region and into the extreme Northeast,” said Gates.

“We now distribute throughout New England, including Maine and into Canada,” he said. “Our business in Canada has grown strongly, and it continues to expand.”

Lancaster Foods sources from all U.S. growing regions and it imports globally. It utilizes a GPS system that the company installed several years ago which keeps it and its customers informed of exactly where trucks are located at all times.

“We continue to add new products and to look at new packaging opportunities,” Gates said. “New ideas and options are continually being considered and tested.”