Pexco Produce Sales in Pompano Beach, FL, continually searches for new high-quality products and packaging to add to its line as the company continues to expand with new customers who want to utilize its consolidation services.

J.T. Guida, company president, said its customer base remains about 70 percent chainstores and purveyors and about 30 percent wholesalers.

“Expanding our line is a continual evolution at Pexco,” said Guida. “This year was have added okra in clamshells, bagged okra and colored Bell peppers in two options; four green and two colored to a bag, and five colored and one green to a bag. These products are all marketed under our popular Pexco label.”

Pexco handles a full line of fresh produce, sourcing bothdomestically and offshore.

At Pexco Produce Sales were Mike Stanley, Carol Iwaniszyn, Lily Chacon and J.T. Guida.“We run both during the winter,” Guida explained. “In late March to early April our line switches over to mostly Florida produce. Our domestic line is particularly strong in green beans, peppers, cucumbers and eggplant. Domestically, we follow the seasons northward.”

The company has proudly held onto its superior rating of 98 percent from Primus Labs since its first rating several years ago.

“We are now getting superior ratings from the more intensive Primus program; Primus GFS,” said Guida. “This rating is geared toward packing houses and consolidation facilities, and many chain retailers now require it.”

Pexco is a fully integrated company. It procures, grows, markets, consolidates and provides full-service logistics. It also consolidates for major retail chainstores and purveyors.

“No order is too big or too small for us,” said Guida. “Our consolidation and distribution facility in Moultrie, GA, continues to expand to include more growers. We have operated this facility for several years with great success. It runs our vegetable line during June and July, and then again in September, October and into November.”

Its Plant City facility is open all year to accommodate local Florida customers. Pexco expanded its pre-cooling operation in Plant City to about 30,000 square feet during the past several years. It also installed a new holding cooler. The unit is used to accommodate the increasing demand from chain retailers.

Pexco has been servicing customers for over 40 years, and Guida has seen industry changes along the way.

“We’re now seeing the industry evolve into more contract buying,” he said. “This makes it more challenging for smaller growers to stay in business.”