With more national carriers entering the produce transportation sector, and some improvement in the economy, an expert for Lange Logistics expects that there might be an easing of the transportation situation in this coming year.

“I think independent owner-operators have given way to large national carriers, both assets based and lease operated,” said Wally Lampertz, vice president of sales for the firm’s Nashville, TN, division.

Rob Goldstein.

It is a cliché but for Robert A. Goldstein, owner and president of Genpro Inc.

Zach Gillespie joined the staff of Mountain Valley Logistics at the beginning of 2012 as a truck broker. “Mountain Valley welcomed him with open arms, and we’re rocking,” Transportation Manager Kurt Holland told The Produce News Jan. 13. “He is very enthusiastic about his work and clients. He’s a very professional young man.”

Gourmet’s Finest has two convenient locations that allow it to quickly ship its high-quality mushrooms to many major cities. Its headquarters is in Avondale, PA, in the middle of the United States’ mushroom heartland, and it has a 10,000-square-foot distribution center in Detroit.

Jeremy Olesky is the on-site general manager of Gourmet’s Finest Detroit facility. He told The Produce News that the company opened the Detroit facility three years ago.

“Technology is at the forefront of our business every day,” said Nate Stone, chief operating officer for Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc., in Detroit. “A couple of short decades ago we didn’t think it was very important, but today we know that it’s many times more important than we can even imagine. Everything operates with technology today, but we also believe that it’s still a ‘hands-on’ business, and we demonstrate that by continuing to provide the best personal service possible.”

“I speak for the entire industry when I say that there is a tremendous cooperative spirit that exists between the produce terminal merchants and the retailers in Detroit,” said Jeff Abrash, president and owner of Andrews Bros. Inc., located at the Detroit Produce Terminal. “Retailers work very hard at merchandising and selling more produce, and they count on us to source the right products. Without their energy and ability, we would not be as strong as we are, and the same is true in reverse.”