Florida’s Wholesale Marketplace

“Our main commodities are mostly dry vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers, beans, summer squash, winter squash, eggplant, onions, and melons,” comments Jimmy Myrick, son of Edward. Jimmy serves as vice president of his father’s company in Pompano Beach. While Jimmy says sales of dry vegetables have been steady over the last several years, he has noticed an uptick in demand for value-added items or bagged produce.

Gary Wishnatzki, president and CEO of Wish Farms in Plant City says demand for organic strawberries and blueberries also continues to climb. “Growing organics in Florida can be challenging,” Wishnatzki admits, but after more than a decade of experience, Wish Farms has mastered the process. The company has been in business since 1922, selling a variety of fruits and vegetables, but is particularly known for its strawberries.

FLORIDA STATE FARMER MARKETS
NORTH & SOUTH BY THE NUMBERS

North Florida:
Suwannee Valley Farmers’ Market
2758 County Road 136,, White Springs, FL 33209
Phone: (386) 963-5903
Established: 1988
Size: 126+ acres
2014 Sales*: $250.9 million

Jacksonville Farmers Market
Not an official state market; privately owned by Beaver Street Fisheries
810 West Beaver Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32209
Phone: (904) 354-2821
Established: 1938
Size: 9 acres
Customers: 25,000+ shoppers each week

Starke Farmers’ Market
2222 N. Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091
Phone: (386) 329-3713
Established: 1938
Size: 10 acres
2014 Sales: $6.6 million

Trenton Farmers’ Market
830 N.E. Trenton Boulevard, Trenton, FL 32693
Phone: (386) 963-5903
Established: 1965
Size: 10 acres
2014 Sales: $4.2 million

Palatka Farmers Market
225 U.S. Highway 17, East Palatka, FL 32131
Phone: (386) 329-3713
Established: 1938
Size: 12+ acres
2014 Sales: $5 million

South Florida
Edward L. Myrick State Farmers Market
(formerly Pompano Farmers’ Market)
1255 W. Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Phone: (954) 786-4828
Established: 1939
Size: 12+ acres
2014 Sales: $56.6 million

Florida City Farmers Market
300 N. Krome Avenue
Florida City, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 246-6334
Established: 1940
Size: 20+ acres
2014 Sales: $53 million

*Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida State Farmers Markets 2013-2014 Annual Report.

Food Safety
When dealing with grocery retailers, Florida produce wholesalers face a number of challenges—but food safety tops the list.