New programs are a constant addition at Nathel & Nathel Inc., located at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx, NY. The firm’s hallmark to success is to stay at the industry top, and that means to always handle the best produce at the best possible prices.

Shelly Nathel, vice president of the company, told The Produce News that its stellar staff has equally contributed to the company’s success since it began in 1922.

“We are family business and we really take that to heart,” said Nathel. “This philosophy extends throughout our staff of about 150 people. Work and family are our hallmarks and we treat the people who work for us with that in the forefront.”

Nathel works side by side with his brother, Ira Nathel, company president.

Nathel & Nathel has 24 and one-half units on the market. It gained an additional two units over a year ago and is converting them into ice boxes. It also added a potato and onion division a couple of years ago which made it a full line house.

Its dedication to staff is demonstrated every year at its annual summer picnic. Nathel said held in August at a summer camp-type venue, about 500 staff and family members attend.

“We have clowns, trapeze artists, face painting, football, soccer and baseball games, swimming and more,” said Nathel. “We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and people tend to linger until around six in the evening. Raffles are held and we make sure everyone goes home with something. There is also karaoke and a pie-eating contest. It’s a really fun time.”

Nathel & Nathel runs busloads of people from Hunts Point to the picnic to insure that everyone has transportation.

“It’s a great way for wives and husbands to learn about what their spouses do for our company and to bring everyone together,” added Nathel.

The company stays highly progressive with updates at its facility. It’s now in the process of renovating with a new fruit cooler and a new refrigerated trucking department to insure an unbroken cold chain.

“We are now working toward our food-safety certification, which we hope to have completed before the end of the year,” said Nathel. “Tommy Cifu, our operations manager, will be taking the food-safety certification program and will lead us through the process.

“We are also renovating our sales booths to make them more user and customer friendly,” he continued. “And our website is being updated to make it interactive so customers can see what we have daily, and even process their orders online.”

Nathel said the company has always been involved with and been a great supporter of local farmers, and it’s becoming even more grassroots oriented.

“As we pick up new growers, word spreads about the great job we do and growers are even more responsive,” he said. “The New York apple program is a perfect example. It’s a wonderful product and we’re strongly dedicated to it.”