Rick Milavsky, president, secretary and treasurer of BRS Produce Co. Inc., located at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, said everyone is glad to say goodbye to winter. When he spoke to The Produce News on April 20, he was happy to report that the New Jersey program was just opening up.

“We’re seeing some dandelion now, and other crops will follow in the coming week to two,” said Milavsky. “That’s a sure sign that things are opening up, and it’s a time of year we always look forward to.”

BRS Produce handles a full line of fruits and vegetables, and it places a particularly strong focus on tomatoes and mushrooms. When the company opened its doors at PWPM it also began a new tropical division and hired Ed Barba to oversee the program.

“Tropicals are doing very well,” said Milavsky. “Ed is doing a good job and the line is growing. We continue to handle mixed vegetables out of California, and all leafy products from just about every area where they are produced. And we follow the eastern coastline’s seasonal production movement from Florida to New Jersey, as well as product produced from Ohio, Texas and Mexico.”

Milavsky works along with his father, Ron Milavsky, who serves as the company’s vice president. BRS was among the original tenants at the PWPM when it opened in June 2011. It occupies units D-2, D-3 and D-4.

BRS Produce’s customer base profile has remained the same categorically since it moved from the old Dock Street market location, but Milavsky said the company has picked up new customers since moving, and as word continues to spread about the great things the company can offer, more and more customers are coming on board.

“For example, the unbroken cold chain we now have increases the integrity of fresh produce,” he explained. “This means that we can stretch sales out a little longer. And we’re able to handle merchandise more efficiently. The facility is spotless, and overall the result is that more people want to buy from us.”

BRS Produce ships within an approximate 100-mile radius of the PWPM. It services the Atlantic City and New York City areas, south to Baltimore and Washington D.C. and west to Harrisburg, PA. Its customers are mostly foodservice wholesalers that supply hotels, casinos and industrial operations. It also sells to small chain retailers. And it is a strong supporter of locally grown initiatives.

Milavsky said the company follows all of the required food-safety protocols. “As do our shippers,” he noted. “Documentation is available to present to our buyers at all times.”

Milavsky noted that more independent retailers are opening up in places in the region that previously did not have fresh produce available.

“This trend goes hand-in-hand with the locally grown and sustainable trends in that consumers want to help support their own community businesses,” he said.