Fresh from the Start prepares for upcoming Maine broccoli deal
Fresh from the Start prepares for upcoming Maine broccoli deal
RIVERHEAD, NY -- The sales staff at Fresh from the Start LLC is gearing up to do what it does best: provide the highest quality Maine broccoli to its retail and foodservice customers.
Now in its 11th year, Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, expects to begin shipping broccoli July 17 from its longtime grower in Caribou, ME.
"We take a lot of pride in this deal -- it's where our roots are," Eric Scannelli, Fresh from the Start's sales manager, told The Produce News June 15. "It looks like it is going to be a good year. Demand is strong even before the season starts, especially with f.o.b. prices from California at $16 to $18 a box today. We have had ideal weather conditions - we couldn't have asked for better."
Mr. Scannelli said that Fresh from the Start expects to ship approximately 1 million cases this season, up from 750,000 last year, in a newly redesigned box. It spent $250,000 on a new automated ice machine and has also been focused on developing new varieties, particularly with its Asian-cut program.
"We have dramatically increased our Asian-cut broccoli crown program over last year's," he said. "We have a lot of time, research and capital invested in developing an East Coast seed suited for [the region's] specific growing conditions."
In addition to Asian cut, Fresh from the Start also packs domestic crowns, 14- and 18-count, and iceless broccoli.
The company also ships other East Coast products including nine- count jacketed cauliflower, Athena cantaloupes, strawberries and watermelons, as well as offshore asparagus and Peruvian sweet onions, all available under the "Fresh from the Start" label. It will also offer orange cauliflower -- a popular item during Halloween -- from the beginning of September through the end of October.
Mr. Scannelli noted that the quality of East Coast product has increased dramatically over the past 10 years and has grown even more attractive over the last three to four years because of increasing freight rates and the ability to have overnight delivery to almost every major East Coast city.
"The chainstores see value more and more in an area like the East Coast that produces volume with excellent quality," he said. "The buyer understands that it is better to source from 400 miles away than from 3,000."
With California freight rates at an all-time high, Ron Rera, ADS Management's transportation manager, said that the company "is utilizing better computer software which allows us to route trucks more efficiently to better serve our customers."
Now in its 11th year, Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, expects to begin shipping broccoli July 17 from its longtime grower in Caribou, ME.
"We take a lot of pride in this deal -- it's where our roots are," Eric Scannelli, Fresh from the Start's sales manager, told The Produce News June 15. "It looks like it is going to be a good year. Demand is strong even before the season starts, especially with f.o.b. prices from California at $16 to $18 a box today. We have had ideal weather conditions - we couldn't have asked for better."
Mr. Scannelli said that Fresh from the Start expects to ship approximately 1 million cases this season, up from 750,000 last year, in a newly redesigned box. It spent $250,000 on a new automated ice machine and has also been focused on developing new varieties, particularly with its Asian-cut program.
"We have dramatically increased our Asian-cut broccoli crown program over last year's," he said. "We have a lot of time, research and capital invested in developing an East Coast seed suited for [the region's] specific growing conditions."
In addition to Asian cut, Fresh from the Start also packs domestic crowns, 14- and 18-count, and iceless broccoli.
The company also ships other East Coast products including nine- count jacketed cauliflower, Athena cantaloupes, strawberries and watermelons, as well as offshore asparagus and Peruvian sweet onions, all available under the "Fresh from the Start" label. It will also offer orange cauliflower -- a popular item during Halloween -- from the beginning of September through the end of October.
Mr. Scannelli noted that the quality of East Coast product has increased dramatically over the past 10 years and has grown even more attractive over the last three to four years because of increasing freight rates and the ability to have overnight delivery to almost every major East Coast city.
"The chainstores see value more and more in an area like the East Coast that produces volume with excellent quality," he said. "The buyer understands that it is better to source from 400 miles away than from 3,000."
With California freight rates at an all-time high, Ron Rera, ADS Management's transportation manager, said that the company "is utilizing better computer software which allows us to route trucks more efficiently to better serve our customers."
