Every year brings new and major changes at S. Katzman Produce Inc., located on the Hunts Point Produce Market.

Fourth generation family member, Stefanie Katzman, told The Produce News that even bigger changes will come in the future.

“We have always serviced the Northeast, but now we are spreading across the entire East Coast,” she said. “And we have international customers in Canada, Europe and the North Atlantic.”

She added that like most people, she’s happy to be done with winter and excited about jumping into stone fruits.

“We saw the first 45 boxes of Southern California cherries in late April, and that’s a sure sign that spring and summer are ahead of us,” she said.

Katzman said she does not anticipate any product issues in the coming season related to the drought in California.

“We move with Mother Nature,” she said. “Because we source product from outside the country, as well as from our domestic and local shippers, our customers are always assured of having what they need.”

Katzman’s customer growth translates into needs for more space at Hunts Point. It occupies units 153 to 157 on Row A, used for produce, and units 260 through 265 on Row B for berries and fruit. On Row D the company previously had units 423 through 428, which are used for its specialties’ line, but they have acquired even more on the row.

“We have acquired units 429 to 433 on row D,” said Katzman. “Now we have consecutive units 423 to 433.”

In March, S. Katzman was in the process of acquiring units 205 to 220 on Row B from Morris Okun Inc.

“What we do with these units is pretty much based on what we decide to do with units 429 to 433 on Row D,” explained Katzman. “We are having many meetings to consider our options.”

The company, in business since the 1920s, services retailers, distributors, caterers, restaurants and gourmet outlets with the full range of both organic and conventional fruits and vegetables.

She also said the Hunts Point market is an amazing place to do business, saying, “There is always action going on,” adding that the market is like a living thing with people always moving about and talking.

“It’s all about relationships between the companies, shippers and customers,” she said. “It’s the best form of organized chaos imaginable.”

S. Katzman has grown a lot over the years and its plans for the future are even bigger.

“Our goal and mission is to always be a better customer to our suppliers and a better vendor to our customers,” said Katzman.

“Our shippers, customers and every employee we have play a key role in our growth, and I give them all a shout out for their hard work and commitment day-in and day-out,” Katzman added.