“A big focus here is to make sure we give our retail partners all the tools they need to satisfy their customers,” said Nardelli, the president of the fifth-generation family business that was formed in 1898. “The key is to give our retailers the best possible product, which is high quality and full of flavor. If we do that, it will encourage repeat business for our retail partners and get consumers to seek out our labels. It is a win-win for all of us.”

Helping Nardelli’s retail partners has always been a priority for the company throughout the company’s 127-year history. Today, with economic and political issues so prevalent, Nardelli said it is even more important to understand the needs of his partners.

“Everyone sees what is going on in the world and how it is impacting consumer behavior,” he noted. “Our job is to make it as easy for our retailers as possible and help them help consumers prioritize purchases. We want to offer great quality produce, but we also want to show the consumer that we understand what they are going through and what they need.”

Thus far, Nardelli said the spring season has been good. Warm temperatures, enough rain and a fully irrigated system is helping the company produce some very good produce this spring and into the summer months.   

“We are producing some beautiful lettuce, herbs and parsley and it looks like production will pick up,” Nardelli noted. “We had a good asparagus season in April along with radishes and spinach. Now, we are transitioning to such dry items as squash and in June we will harvest more squash, as well as cucumbers and beans.

“The spring and summer months mean so much to us here and we really focus on making sure we have the right items that consumers are looking for. The winter is over and now we can focus on better and warmer weather, as well as more outdoor activities, which really help to spur additional sales. So, we focus on corn, lettuce and other produce items that consumers want during the spring and summer months.”

Promoting the Jersey Fresh campaign, a program that Nardelli’s has been involved with from its start, also helps build sales and awareness. “Locally-grown commodities are extremely important to a lot of people and we are very happy to be part of the Jersey Fresh family, which promotes not only our items but produce grown throughout the Garden State,” Nardelli added. “Together, with our competitors, we want to make it well known that New Jersey offers quality products with great taste.”

Staying on top of trends is also extremely important, he added. Every year, Nardelli, along with his sons, Bill, Jr., the vice president of sales, and Jimmy, the vice president of production and transportation, looks to expand the farm, improve its packaging equipment and get more involved in technology, including artificial intelligence, to ensure that they are ahead of the curve.

What could throw a wrench into things? “Labor is always a challenge for us,” Nardelli said. “The key to any successful business is having a viable workforce and that is always something we have to work very hard at maintaining. I think every industry struggles with higher labor costs and finding an adequate workforce. We are looking for the government, through its H-2A visa program, to supply us with good labor as we move forward. That is crucial to our operation.”