Sami Fruits
Sami Fruits / Wholesale Produce
A RAINBOW of Flavors
Sami Fruits traces its roots to 1910 when Refai Al Asmar, who was just 17, followed his dream and decided to grow several different crops in Lebanon. After experiencing successful harvests of fruits and vegetables, he created a small outdoor stand at a public market and began to sell his fresh produce to the local community. Refai’s son, Mustafa, joined his father at the young age of 11 and learned all aspects of the business. He eventually passed on the knowledge to his own son, Sami, who wanted to branch out on his own and moved to Canada in 1973, where he immediately opened a stand at the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal. Through much dedication and perseverance, the operation grew from a single stand to a 600-square-foot store to an 8,000-square-foot store. Continuing with the family tradition, Sami brought his own son, Sami Taleb Jr., into the fold, and he learned the business while completing his studies. By 1990, they were operating an extremely successful operation but were looking to take the next step. Upon finding a suitable location, they constructed a 70,000-square-foot warehouse, which allowed them to buy larger quantities of produce to sell at competitive prices. Today, La Maison Sami T.A. Fruits Inc. is a major wholesaler of fruits and vegetables in the Greater Montreal area and is a major importer and exporter of a variety of produce items.
