Finding produce success in Pompano

For many years, the Pompano State Farmers Market was a key shipping point for Florida vegetables. Trucks from within Florida and out of state were able to consolidate loads that reached consumers throughout many parts of the nation.

Today, the produce industry remains strong in this area although the regional farm acreage has decreased. In large part, offshore growing programs that enter produce through Port Everglades, Miami and regional airports, and grower/ importer/distributors have helped keep the area a vital source of fresh produce.

With the Edward L. Myrick State Farmers Market, as the market was later named in 2017, located between Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike, it provides outstanding access to two major thoroughfares that go up the East Coast and through Western Georgia and the Midwest.

“From Pompano, you can actually ship from here and go both directions, so that gives you a lot of flexibility as to your customer base,” said Jimmy Myrick of Edward L. Myrick Produce Inc. “Our proximity to the ports also helps. We import stuff from Honduras when there’s no stuff here in Florida and we also have access to offer melons, onions and all kinds of products because we’re right here just five miles from the Everglades and less than 30 miles from the Port of Miami.”

He added that the trick to succeeding in the Pompano market begins with being able to adapt.

“The scene here in South Florida and the Pompano area is very diverse,” he said. “You have to have the ability to be flexible and change with the ever-changing population here in Florida. Because we also ship all over the United States, our company has a broader footprint across the country, but here in Pompano locally, there are lot of communities in the area who want different things, so you need quite a bit of variety to service the whole community.”

Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Pompano Beach, FL-based Southern Specialties touts the produce market’s ease for truckers, with plenty of parking and the fact it’s situated to major highways, as being a favorite landing spot.

“At a time when driver hours and fuel costs stress profitability, Pompano’s strategic location north of the Miami area and its close proximity to major truck arteries helps move product efficiently,” he said.

Michael Yates, COO of Pexco Produce Sales, noted the influx of import product coming into the Pompano market continues to increase every year. “The Florida growers are still here and supporting us, but the import business is the main driving force here in South Florida, with all the different items that come in — there are just a world of tropicals that come through this area now,” he said.

He added that the vendors on the Pompano market work together, which makes the business enjoyable.

“We have partnerships among ourselves and it makes life easy and the produce business a little easier,” he said. “There’s a good group of produce companies that all seem to work together as opposed to other areas where everyone is drawing a line in the sand. You don’t have that in Pompano.”