Wiechec concurs and says cilantro sales have risen nearly tenfold in the last decade. He has also noticed an uptick in Asian pears, finding customers are intrigued by the juicy fruit.
From his vantage point as a wholesaler, Wiechec also observes the mounting demand for value-added items. “We used to only sell kale by the bunch in a box, now we have it recipe-ready in bags.” And it’s not just kale enjoying strong demand—the convenience trend has spread to other items like collard greens, which are also climbing in popularity in a washed, chopped, and bagged format.
Perhaps the most promising grab-and-go product is a twist on the enduringly popular salad kits. “If my wife says we’re having Brussels sprouts and red cabbage, I don’t get too excited,” Wiechec admits. “But shred them, toss with kale, sunflower seeds, and dried cherries—and it’s fantastic!”
Kohlrabi, once a nostalgic vegetable, is a rising star with room to grow, predicts Collotti. He’s getting more requests for it, and for the Indian herb medileaf, too. “These items have always been around, but there was never much demand—now, people are starting to ask for them.”
Collotti also notices a rising popularity in “aspirations,” which have not always been around like kohlrabi. More commonly known as the trademarked “Broccolini,” an aspiration is a cross between Chinese kale and broccoli.
Imports & Exports
When it comes to trade and the various fruits and vegetables coming in through the East Coast’s ports, most suppliers have an opinion. John DiFeliciantonio, president of North American Produce Company, says, “Many of the trade agreements protect domestic growers, and rightly so,” but at the same time, as an importer, he would like to see fewer restrictions so wholesalers can provide a greater variety of produce.
His counterparts in Canada, for example, are importing carrots and mangos with exceptional coloring and fragrance. “Domestically, our growers’ standards and cultural practices are the best in the world. At the same time, other countries who would like to do business in the States are upgrading their equipment and practices,” he states. Yet for some exporters, access is blocked due to the complicated, often protracted process necessary to gain entry into U.S. ports. “I think it’s time we revisit the rules.”
To that end, the Port of Philadelphia has been doing its part to increase trade, as a recent meeting with Mexican officials attests. In May, representatives from ten fruit exporters toured the PWPM and nearby packing and cooling facilities to discuss perishable exports.
Organized by Ship Philly First, a nonprofit group comprised of businesses, the Philadelphia port authority, Mexican consulate, and a development agency called ProMexico, the talks bode well for more fruit shipments from throughout Mexico, and should directly impact the PWPM’s merchants and area retailers.
