In the 23 years since its founding by Chief Executive Officer and President Robert Colescott, Southern Specialties’ unwavering insistence on quality and unparalleled customer service has led the company to become one of the United States’ leading growers and distributors of premium specialty produce. Its customers include the finest retail, foodservice and wholesale club companies in the U.S. and Canada. The company focuses strongly on its offshore programs, consisting of a wide range of high-quality specialty produce offered in numerous pack sizes and value-added convenience packaging.

MINNEAPOLIS — The produce business is strong in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, according to produce distributors there.

Brent Beckman, the director of sales and marketing for G.O. Fresh, a Minneapolis-based fresh produce pre-cutting firm, said restaurant sales in the Twin Cities “are picking up again” after slowing several years ago with the economic downturn.

“Really, business is rebounding quite nicely,” said Marylou Owens, owner and chief operating officer of G.O. Fresh.

MINNEAPOLIS — Amid artsy boutiques in an eclectic neighborhood here is a grocery store run by the Wedge Community Co-op. Shoppers walk directly into a well-stocked, clean, attractive, colorful produce department managed by Dean Schladweiler. The department offers around 250 SKUs.

Since the store opened in 2008, produce sales have grown 3 percent to 5 percent a year in “a very steady trend,” Schladweiler said.

Local produce is featured. When the U.S. northlands are frozen, Wedge supports smaller family farms from California and other corners of the world.

NEW BRIGHTON, MN — H. Brooks & Co. LLC is continuing a focus on food safety and innovation. “It is a continuation of what we do,” said Phillip Brooks, chief executive officer of the firm, based here. “Our emphasis is how to help people who work with us through the supply chain to sell more products that are healthy, taste great and are food-safe.” Brooks said these three factors are all critical points of emphasis for his firm.

“Beans is all we do” had almost become something of a slogan for JMB Distributing Inc. in Nogales, AZ, which for a number of years had done nothing else.

This fall and winter, however, JMB has diversified just a bit, adding some soft squash to the program, according to President Harry Spragia.

The bean deal this year is “exactly the same” as it has been, Spragia said. “The warehouse is the same. All the personnel are the same. We’ve been doing this for 47 years” and have had the same grower for 18 years.

Big Chuy Distributors & Sons Inc. in Nogales, AZ, is in the watermelon business 12 months out of the year. Jesus (Chuy) Lopez Jr., president of Big Chuy Distributors, said the company prides itself on being able to assure customers of constant availability of product, in addition to a strong focus on quality and service.

“Our customers can know that day to day we have watermelons for them, year-round,” he said.

The melons are packed mainly under the company’s “Chuy’s Pride” label. They consist primarily of seedless melons and some mini melons.