Fresh from the Start earns AIB 'Superior' rating for broccoli
Fresh from the Start earns AIB 'Superior' rating for broccoli
RIVERHEAD, NY -- It's a "Superior" for Fresh from the Start LLC.
Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, earned a "Superior" rating from AIB International for its broccoli growing and shipping operation in Caribou, ME, and the firm expects this year's deal to kick off in mid-July.
Fresh from the Start, which along with Smith's Farm in Presque Isle, ME, is among the few grower-shippers involved in the Maine broccoli deal, takes pride in its quality control and employs its own inspector to personally inspect every load, Eric Scannelli, Fresh from the Start's sales manager, told The Produce News July 2.
"Every load also has a federal inspection before it ships, and we have a traceability program in place from field to distribution centers," he said. "That's what food safety is about -- managing and minimizing risks -- and we all work really hard at that."
Fresh from the Start packs Asian-cut and domestic-cut crowns, 14- and 18- count, and iceless broccoli during the deal, which runs through October or until the first frost.
Once the Maine deal ends, the company transitions to North Carolina broccoli for one month, giving it extra product through the end of November. The company also plans to start shipping a nine-count jacketed cauliflower, available under the "Fresh from the Start" label, during the week of July 15 and running through mid-October.
Mr. Scannelli expects to ship over 1 million boxes in this year's deal. "We are a regional sourcing solution for our customers and want to help them overcome freight issues," he noted. "We are thinking globally and giving our customers and consumers the opportunity to buy locally and save fossil fuels and the environment."
Mr. Scannelli said that the firm has several new East Coast commodities currently under trial and will only release them once it achieves the best consistency and quality for its clients.
"More options will allow us to more fully service our clients," he said. "As we work and continue to add items, it is one more incentive for clients to do business with us."
Fresh from the Start, a division of ADS Management LLC, based here, earned a "Superior" rating from AIB International for its broccoli growing and shipping operation in Caribou, ME, and the firm expects this year's deal to kick off in mid-July.
Fresh from the Start, which along with Smith's Farm in Presque Isle, ME, is among the few grower-shippers involved in the Maine broccoli deal, takes pride in its quality control and employs its own inspector to personally inspect every load, Eric Scannelli, Fresh from the Start's sales manager, told The Produce News July 2.
"Every load also has a federal inspection before it ships, and we have a traceability program in place from field to distribution centers," he said. "That's what food safety is about -- managing and minimizing risks -- and we all work really hard at that."
Fresh from the Start packs Asian-cut and domestic-cut crowns, 14- and 18- count, and iceless broccoli during the deal, which runs through October or until the first frost.
Once the Maine deal ends, the company transitions to North Carolina broccoli for one month, giving it extra product through the end of November. The company also plans to start shipping a nine-count jacketed cauliflower, available under the "Fresh from the Start" label, during the week of July 15 and running through mid-October.
Mr. Scannelli expects to ship over 1 million boxes in this year's deal. "We are a regional sourcing solution for our customers and want to help them overcome freight issues," he noted. "We are thinking globally and giving our customers and consumers the opportunity to buy locally and save fossil fuels and the environment."
Mr. Scannelli said that the firm has several new East Coast commodities currently under trial and will only release them once it achieves the best consistency and quality for its clients.
"More options will allow us to more fully service our clients," he said. "As we work and continue to add items, it is one more incentive for clients to do business with us."
