Boston’s stalwarts and specialists

Merchants on both The New England Produce Center (NEPC) and the Boston Market Terminal (BMT) serve up a vast assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables, including everything from staple items to specialty produce, from local sources, nearby states and provinces, and outside North America.

Offerings range from potatoes, onions, peppers, tomatoes, citrus, bananas, berries, and apples to more exotic items including coconut, jackfruit, bamboo shoots, bok choy, and bitter melon.

“At Community-Suffolk Inc., we handle a complete vegetable and citrus lineup with particular strengths in staple commodities such as celery, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, all lettuce, and an expansive line of citrus items,” said Tommy Piazza, in sales for Community-Suffolk, Inc., BB #:101225 a wholesaler operating out of both the BMT and NEPC.

He confirms the company’s primary network of suppliers is from within North America, Central America, and Canada. “In season, Israel, Spain, and Chile also support the continuous quality we maintain year-round,” he adds.

The top commodities for Travers Fruit Company, Inc., BB #:278519 include onions, watermelon, cherries, apples, pears, grapes, and all varieties of berries. “All of our commodities are available year-round,” said Paul Travers, president.

Patrick Burke, sales manager with Garden Fresh Salad Company, Inc. BB #:101286 on the NEPC, said Garden Fresh sells a great deal of romaine and other lettuces, coleslaw, processed onions, and carrots.

“Those are probably our biggest items,” he says, adding that the company sources most of its lettuce from California and Arizona. “Carrots can come from California all the way to Canada,” he states. “It depends on the time of year.”

John Cerasuolo Company, Inc. BB #:101208 on the NEPC, is somewhat unique in that it sells strictly vegetables—no fruit.

“We typically sell the same produce commodities, and get stronger and stronger every year,” said Dominic Cavallaro, president.

The company handles a full line of key vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, and eggplant.

This is a multi-part spotlight feature on Boston produce adapted from the October 2019 issue of Produce Blueprints.

Image sources are either licensed or customer-provided.