For LA Produce, the bulk of the supplier’s imports come not from Europe, but a southerly direction. “We purchase high volumes of pineapples from Costa Rica, melons from Guatemala, and Mexico is a big source for avocados.”
Coosemans Los Angeles sources from a broad range of suppliers, including peppers, leeks, and celery root from Holland, and citrus, passion fruit, and specialty vegetables from New Zealand, according to Pollack. “We bring in rambutans from Guatemala, Mexico, and Thailand,” he notes, but there is a downside to bringing in cargo from far-flung places. “It’s a challenge because they have to be fumigated for insects and this can ruin the fruit.”
Looking Forward
By nature, Los Angeles has always been a place where dreams are pursued. This is true for buyers and sellers of fresh food as well. “The last 30 years has seen a huge influx of chefs from all over the world,” explains Pollack. “They come here for the opportunities and bring new ideas, but they all want to find a bit of their home culture here. We bring it in for them. As a result, there’s more diversity, which is the most distinctive characteristic of the city.”
The future of produce in Los Angeles also lies in reducing waste and sharing the amplitude of California’s agriculture. Just last May, a pop-up food hub was created when staff at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee learned that Food Forward could provide mixed pallets of fresh produce on a regular basis. The group realized they could create a food distribution center in what was always a food desert.
“We started with 109 families and within a few weeks, we were serving 240,” says Nahmias. Food Forward picks up the LAWPM’s surplus produce in the early morning and by 10:00 am it’s delivered to Watts. By 1:00 pm, it’s distributed to those in need. From growers to wholesalers to retailers or food rescue operations, Los Angeles is a land of plenty that continues to share its bounty with consumers near and far.
Images: abc1234, Rhonda Roth, ESstock, Tang Yan Song, Maridav, Chones, prasom boonpong/Shutterstock.com
