Chain store produce
buyers coming to session
12/17/02
Buyers and brokers from all segments of the produce industry have agreed to meet with Delaware growers of fruit and vegetables at a special session of the Vegetable Growers’ Conference on Jan. 9.
The full-day session, organized by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, will be held at the Exhibit Hall on the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. The session is part of the regularly scheduled Delaware Vegetable Growers’ Conference held each January and organized by University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension.
Large and small wholesale buyers from across the region .will make presentations on how growers can effectively market large truckload quantities and smaller direct store deliveries. Buyers from large chain stores and mass merchandisers, including Shop-Rite and Wal-Mart, will be on hand, as well as terminal market brokers, restaurant wholesale buyers and government procurement representatives.
Delaware growers will be able to meet one-on-one with produce buyers and discuss marketing opportunities available to growers for next year’s crop.The USDA’s assistant regional director responsible for the enforcement of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) will provide information on how growers can protect themselves from unfair and fraudulent practices when marketing perishable commodities.
“Marketing fresh fruit and vegetables in an increasingly competitive marketplace is challenging,” said Michael T. Scuse, Delaware Secretary of Agriculture. “We want to provide Delaware growers with new opportunities and approaches to marketing, and assist growers with services that can help them make good business decisions,” he said.
Delaware produce growers interested in attending the session are encouraged to contact the Marketing Section of the Delaware Department of Agriculture at (800) 282-8685.
For more information on marketing assistance available to Delaware commodity growers and value-added agricultural products, contact Melanie Rapp, marketing specialist with the Delaware Department of Agriculture at (302) 698-4522 or by e-mail at Melanie.Rapp@state. de.us.