Ken Cavallaro, treasurer of John Cerasuolo Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, told The Produce News that the company was pretty much in full swing in October with at least some product coming from just about everywhere.

“Things will quiet down with production in the Northeast pretty soon, and will start to peter out,” he said. “We’ll then start working with Southeast, Mexico and California suppliers.

Cavallaro noted that the company continues to move its basic lineup of vegetables.Domenic Cavallaro III, sales representative, with his father, Skip Cavallaro, president of John Cerasuolo Co. The company handles a full line of vegetables from across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Cavallaro and his brother, Skip Cavallaro, who serves as company president, purchased the firm in 1972 from its original owners who had been in business for over 80 years. It has been on the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, since it opened in 1968. Skip’s son, Domenic Cavallaro III, joined the company about a decade ago and is a sales representative.

The company did not experience a slack in business in the New England area during the economic downturn over the past few years, but Cavallaro noted that retailers continue to buy closer to the belt, noting that no one is over-buying today.

“Things are pretty much the same as they have been for the past couple of years,” he said. “This has become somewhat of a permanent mindset because chain buyers have been in the same mode for a long time. It’s better for the market because they use us for fill-ins. When they run out of produce they come knocking on our doors.”

John Cerasuolo is unique in the industry in that it handles a full line of staple vegetables that people need regardless of whether they are eating at home or at a restaurant. The company does not handle fruit.

The company’s customers are retail chains and independent retailers and foodservice operators. It ships throughout New England.

Cavallaro noted that the foodservice sector in the areas that the company services are doing well. The company exercises extreme caution in making sure that all of the people it sources its fresh produce from are highly reputable companies.

“We source from all areas and follow the seasons in order to always have our full line of the freshest most high quality items year round,” he said. “During the fall we have more local fall items, of course, but that applies to all seasons of the year. Regardless of the time of year our staple items are always available.”

Cavallaro said that the company is looking forward to another rewarding year.

“Our goal is to always provide excellent customer service and high quality produce, and those goals will continue into our future,” he noted.