Consumers have always shopped the produce section with their eyes. Today, in addition to gauging features like freshness, ripeness and color, they are training their eyes on other attributes, including price, count and weight, both in-store and online.

The eyes still have it — they’re just refocusing.

The Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx has — and continues to be — essential to New York City’s food infrastructure, and things are only getting better. With approximately 30 merchants, Hunts Point’s family-owned businesses provide customers with exceptional guidance and service, drawing on generations in the trade.

Suppose you are shopping in the produce department, looking over the varieties of tomatoes. All of a sudden there is an unexpected tap on your shoulder. You turned around and a robot says, “can I help you?” It’s possible you’d jump out of your shoes. I absolutely would.

The Sackett family has been growing potatoes in Michigan for six generations since first planting 20 acres of the crop in 1905. Today, Sackett Ranch covers more than 8,200 acres, with more than 3,800 acres dedicated to growing potatoes. The farm also grows seed corn, field corn, soy beans and wheat.

For 40 years Carlos Capote has been a cornerstone of the J&C Tropicals team, generously sharing his deep knowledge of the produce industry, and greatly contributing to the company's success.

"Carlos is a wealth of knowledge. He knows more about the industry and its evolution than pretty much anyone here,” said Jessie Capote, CEO of J&C Tropicals.

As the sun shines brighter and the days get warmer, it’s time to spring clean your routine. March marks National Nutrition Month, urging us to look Beyond The Table when it comes to health and environmental impact. Daily choices, from breakfast to midnight snacks, have a ripple effect on the world around us.