Southern Specialties brings experience to Pompano produce landscape

When talking about the success Southern Specialties has enjoyed for many years, Charlie Eagle credits the work and dedication of the company’s staff.

“We’re happy to have a team with deep experience that enables us to bring value to the entire scope of our customer base, be it in foodservice or retail,” said Eagle, vice president business of development at the company.

Southern Specialties is renowned in Pompano, FL, where it first started doing business 23 years ago. Eagle said that at that time, the Pompano area had one of the most active produce terminal markets in Florida.

“Today, many of those companies that once operated out of the terminal market moved to build warehouses in that general area and have been able to grow their businesses because they have modern facilities and an area that’s very convenient to major north-south thoroughfares, including I95, I75 and the Florida Turnpike, so it’s easy for truckers to make the stop,” he said.

Additionally, many of the shippers who once worked in the Pompano market are now year-round suppliers for a variety of products that are grown not only in Florida, but also in Central America and South America.

In fact, Southern Specialties grows, ships, imports and processes products that are grown in approximately 10 countries.

“Those products reach us not only by air, but by shipping containers as well,” Eagle said. “So for us, the ability to receive our product at the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Miami Airport and Fort Lauderdale Airport affords tremendous opportunities for us. We as a company have invested heavily to create an infrastructure that supports maintaining the cold chain and quality assurance for those products that we bring into the country into those ports.”

Discussing business thus far in 2023, Eagle said it has been strong.

“Every year it seems that there are some challenges thrown at us by Mother Nature, but we have been fortunate in that area this year,” he said. “Guatemala still has been very slow, and Peru has had some challenges with protests that hampered ports for a little while. We’re in the Mexican asparagus season so we’re not that affected as far as the Peruvian asparagus.”

The company also works in avocados year-round through deals in Mexico, Peru, Chile and the Dominican Republic. Also contributing to Southern Specialties’ success in avocados are the services it offers, including mesh bagging, ripening rooms and logistics.

The company also has had success with its green bean program.

“We’re shipping and packaging out of our Pompano facility,” Eagle said. “That would be snipped green beans and a variety of consumer packs, as well as foodservice packs. We have a Brussels sprouts program that’s been very successful this year and we also have our broccoli florets.”

That kind of variety, and its reputation as a key member of the Pompano produce scene, has Southern Specialties well-positioned to build on its success.