When asked whether consumers care more about the taste of their fruits and vegetables or the cost, Vitrano laughs. “It’s a question we ask every day—ultimately, taste is more important, but you have to find the right price or demand drops off,” he says.
“Recent trends have seen customers willing to spend a little more,” asserts Staples, who finds this is usually the case for organic fruits and vegetables. “Organic sales have continued to grow for us over the past seven years.”
Another facet of sales is the state’s branding program, Maryland’s Best, which is administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Items with the bright, colorful logo are promoted through media campaigns and point-of-sale displays, along with a wide variety of information regarding what, when, and where seasonal fruits and vegetables are available throughout the state. In addition, there are a few greenhouse-grown vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and eggplant that are part of the branding program and available all year.
Concluding Thoughts
In Maryland, like everywhere else in the industry, buyers and sellers are on the fence about whether politics will have a major impact on fresh produce.
“No impact has filtered down to us yet,” says Vitrano. “The immigration issue will always be a factor, because the entire industry is dependent on immigrant labor. If that changes, then it will impact us all.”
Staples is more concerned for those at the end of the supply chain. “Unfortunately, I see the end users being the most affected, with increased import taxes being passed along to consumers. The running joke is about customers thinking twice about ordering guacamole with their Chipotle meal, but this soon could be a reality.”
Images: George Rudy, Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com
