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Mega-Produce In The Metroplex

Dallas and Ft. Worth join forces to compete in today’s ever-changing industry
MS_Mega Produce

“Most of the chain stores, who we do a lot of business with, want everything wrapped where the public doesn’t touch the product,” Offutt continues. “It’s getting to be big business here.” To meet the need, he says the company is gearing up with specialized machinery.

Receivers and distributors continue to see high demand for greenhouse-grown vegetables. “Greenhouse products are a very good value for the industry because they’re a little bit more stable and not as affected by weather,” explains Stachurski. “Also, the quality of greenhouse products is usually really good. We’re seeing a lot more demand for those items across the board in retail and foodservice.”

Ibarra with Marengo Foods doesn’t think it is necessarily that demand for greenhouse-grown items is on the rise—rather, it’s more a question of consistent quality. “At the end of the day, we’re in the business of selling a better product, at a better value, through a longer period of the year, and with better customer service,” he says. “We’re seeing a lot of growth in bite-size snacking items, like mini peppers, mini cucumbers, and grape tomatoes.”

According to some Dallas area dealers, organics are also a hot commodity. “I would say [our customers are] beginning to have more interest in organic,” shares Offutt, who thinks much of the demand is due to pricing parity. “Organics used to be about double the price, but now I think there are more people growing organic, so there’s more supply.”

Although Offutt says United Fresh Produce Group is not currently in the organics business, the receiver may be forced into it if demand continues to rise. According to Organic Trade Association research, U.S. sales of organic food and goods soared to $47 billion in 2016, an 8 percent increase from 2015.

“Organics still seem to be a little more of a niche market here in Texas, but it’s definitely growing,” Stachurski adds. “In the foodservice segment, it’s more common than it was 10 years ago, but is still not a driver.”

Challenges: Usual & Atypical
The buyers and sellers in the DFW area continue to deal with the usual trials and tribulations, from weather and food safety to labor and truck shortages.

Stachurski considers the most important issues to be twofold: “Labor is going to continue to be an issue; secondly, there’s food safety. We have a lot of regulations coming from FSMA, that companies may or may not be up to speed on, especially local growers.”

Offutt concurs on the issue of food safety. “Everybody needs to concentrate on it,” he stresses. “The most critical thing this year and next is we must be very careful about the way we treat our food products.”

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