Boston: A powerful pair and winning game plan

In the City of Champions, a dynamic duo of markets has dominated the fresh produce industry for more than fifty years.

The New England Produce Center (NEPC) and the Boston Market Terminal (BMT) serve up a winning combination of fresh fruits and vegetables to Boston’s growing customer base, including a competitive retail sector, a flourishing restaurant scene, and an ever-expanding number of institutions.

As Boston’s increasingly diverse population continues to skyrocket, the city’s produce businesses are reaping the benefits.

“Boston is a very vivacious city, and many cultures are thriving to keep the restaurant and food industry bustling,” observes Tommy Piazza, in sales for Community-Suffolk, Inc., BB #:101225 a wholesaler operating out of both the BMT and NEPC.

In addition to a strong customer base, Boston’s dual markets also benefit from a prime Atlantic Coast location in the heart of New England.

“As the farthest point for many growing areas, Boston is a vital destination for distribution for all of New England,” Piazza said. “The city serves as a gateway to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the Canadian Maritimes.”

Home to 7,241 farms on 491,653 acres, Massachusetts yields more than $475 million in agricultural goods each year. Fruit and vegetables are big business for the Bay State, which produced more than $100 million in vegetables, nearly $60 million in cranberries, and over $28 million in other fruits in 2017.

Much of this state-harvested produce moves through the BMT and NEPC and is ultimately distributed to destinations across the nation and around the globe. As the city’s primary wholesale distribution centers for fresh and value-added produce, these twin markets are the true champs of Boston’s perishables trade.

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.