Grant Stanton Produce Co. finds perfect niche in category niches
Grant Stanton Produce Co. finds perfect niche in category niches
Grant Stanton Produce Co. Inc., located at the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, MA, was started in 1996. Today the company is owned and operated by Shawn Grant. He told The Produce News that the company handles a full line of mushrooms, all of which are sourced from Pennsylvania producers.
“We also handle greenhouse-grown English cucumbers and peppers,” said Mr. Grant. “The majority of our greenhouse produce is from Ontario and Mexico, depending on the season.”
Grant Stanton also handles a full line of apple varieties, most of which are grown in New York and New England. And it does a major berry business, handling all
John Grant and his son, Shawn, at the sales desk of Grant Stanton Produce Co. Inc. in a September 2006 photo. John Grant has since retired and Shawn Grant now owns the company. categories.
“Our berries come from California, and we also follow production up and down the East Coast,” said Mr. Grant. “We are strong in southern peaches from South Carolina and New Jersey, and in limes from Mexico.”
The company also handles a lot of local produce when it’s available. Mr. Grant said it’s always an interesting time because product flow varies according to what is in season.
“Handling local produce is something that we’ve always done,” he said. “New England farmers bring their products to us. Their deliveries are always changing depending on what they’re harvesting at any given time. We increase the amount of locally grown produce we handle every year.”
Grant Stanton’s customer base includes major chain and small retailers and foodservice operators. Mr. Grant said that the company strives to have product that fits everyone’s needs and at all times.
“We are currently in the eastern apple movement,” he said. “Mushrooms are also moving strong.”
Because it’s not a full line vegetable house, the company doesn’t source a lot of product from the east coast seasonal movement, with the exception of berries, but instead focuses on greenhouse produce, mushrooms, apples and its other products.
“Business is pretty steady currently,” said Mr. Grant. “It’s been a good year so far, and we had a highly successful summer. We’re happy and grateful with how business is faring, and we look forward to fall and beyond. I think we’ll have smooth sailing moving into the holiday season.
