Another facet of the fresh story in the Carolinas revolves around fresh-cut and processed fruits and vegetables.
One supplier in South Carolina has found its niche.
Nate Crocker, president of Southern Produce, Inc. BB #:151764 in Columbia, SC, sells a variety of fresh-cut items to institutional customers like area schools. With increased funding in recent years, schools have become the company’s sweet spot.
“Fifty percent of our business comes from schools,” Crocker said. “The other half is from the military and restaurants.”
Southern Produce offers 140 different snack packs, with fruit such as grapes, apples, oranges, and watermelon topping the popularity list. On the vegetable side, packs include various sliced or baby vegetables along with plain or light ranch dressing, both of which are a big hit.
Crocker said other companies don’t sell these packs because of the short shelf life.
“Our snack packs have a 10-day shelf life, so schools have a week to use them,” he explains. “Through breathable film packaging, washing the produce, keeping the supply chain as cold as possible, and attaining the perfect pH level, we’ve solved the shelf-life issue.”
Crocker is so satisfied with this niche and its fit within the market that he predicts business will double over the next six years.
This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full version.
