The Midwest: The Center of Everything

Corsaro concurs. Attacking the issue head-on, he explains, “We’re partnering with universities in our area to develop interest in college graduates. We’re also working with local government agencies.” An example of the latter is Indianapolis Fruit Company’s outreach to veteran groups, offering job placement for those who are currently looking for work.

Corsaro says his other main challenge is external. “It is the proliferation of different grocery stores—our customers’ competition,” which he says makes business more ‘price-driven.’ To address this problem, he says the company tries to plan ahead. “We start with the shippers and suppliers; we communicate with them early so they understand what our customers need.”

A prime example is the July Fourth holiday. “Our customers run different kinds of ads. Based on these ads, we started talking to our suppliers back in April. We project the volume needed, and offer a commitment. In return, we need the most competitive price.” Corsaro states that while this is common procedure for major holidays, he believes the competitive landscape is warranting this practice year-round and the company is steadily working towards it.

For Joe Guyette, safety manager at CST Lines, Inc. in Green Bay, WI, his top obstacles revolve around loading, shipping, and delivering fresh produce in the increasingly restrictive transportation industry. “There is the continuous challenge of making sure our drivers adhere to all regulations at all times. We always strive to be compliant 24/7.”

“Our biggest challenge,” Guyette shares, “is staying current with the ongoing market fluctuations. It’s a challenge to quote and cover a load due to these fluctuations. We try to foresee any trends before they happen”—which, of course, can be difficult.

Technology is also undermining productivity for some. “Very recently there was a computer snafu where the federal H2A program couldn’t do background checks,” Comito comments. “That meant the H2A workers couldn’t get here to work.” Not only was it problematic this year, but worse, it could happen again.

Outlook
In spite of the complex challenges, there is nothing less than enthusiasm coming from the Midwest produce scene. “I am upbeat about the future in light of today’s trends,” states Comito. “There’s plenty of room for growth considering the average person eats two or three servings of fruits and vegetables per day and the government recommends five to ten.”