Chicago wholesalers overcome obstacles

Chicago produce businesses have encountered a number of tough challenges over the past year, particularly inclement weather woes and freight issues. Fortunately, even faced with daunting obstacles, Chicago produce professionals are highly adaptable and always optimistic.

According to Vince Gregosanc Jr., buyer at Battaglia Distributing Company, Inc., BB #:125850 freight is and will continue to be a hot-button issue.

“Freight is still a huge challenge,” he said. “The fact that 500 or 600 independent truckers went out of business last year—that’s 10 per state—makes a dent. It puts all the aces in the major carriers’ hands, and when you’re dealing with corporate America, you’re paying the price, like it or not. It took the personal end out of our industry.”

Brian Holzkopf, senior procurement specialist for Ruby Robinson Company, Inc., BB #:102013 wholeheartedly agrees, saying, “It seems like we have been talking about freight for a couple years now, but this year it became a bigger challenge.”

He adds that weather has also caused major problems this year. “We have seen some terrible weather at different times of the year with almost every region being affected one way or another,” he said.

“Weather was an issue early on, creating shortages or gaps in crops,” said Raquel Espinoza, director of sales and marketing for Produce House BB #:300387.

For Produce House, however, there was a silver lining, as the “shortages allowed us to also create markets for produce that would otherwise not make it to the marketplace.” Selling less-than-perfect items also reduced waste.

How do Chicago produce businesses overcome these roadblocks? “We pull up our boot straps, buckle up, and go along for the ride,” Holzkopf said.

This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full version.

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