Spanning the size of fourteen football fields, the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market is literally one of a kind.
“We have 700,000 square feet of space and are North America’s largest fully-refrigerated wholesale produce marketplace with an enclosed and unbroken cold chain environment. There are currently 22 fruit and vegetable merchants here, and they are competing yet cooperative with each other,” detailed Christine Hofmann with the establishment.
Serving produce buyers, as Hofmann puts it, ranging from home cooks to executive chefs, mom and pop grocers to national supermarket chains, the market serves customers from Canada to North Carolina and has fruit and vegetables from a variety of places.
“We have produce from all over the world. The Philadelphia port is a great place to receive produce from many locations. We pride ourselves in carrying produce from local farms as well,” said Hofmann.
Anyone can shop at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and employees say it’s the prices, quality, variety and friendly merchants that draw shoppers in.
“Our merchants have strong ties back to Philadelphia. Many have been in business for many years. For instance, M. Levin & Company is 110 years old. John Vena, Inc. was started by John’s grandfather in 1919. Several trace their roots back for generations,” said Hofmann.
The market carries thousands of different varieties of produce, and as summer heats up blueberries, jalapeños, squash, cilantro and tomatoes are plentiful and popular, but so are other items.
“One unusual item we carry is the jackfruit. Another is a flat peach from California called peach pie,” explained Hofmann.
With a market this big, there are challenges with excess food and waste, but they try to lessen those issues as much as possible.
“We regularly give produce to Philabundance, an organization aimed at ending hunger, as well as many other charitable organizations. Another challenge was to be environmentally friendly. We recycle about 85% of materials, including cardboard, wooden pallets, and plastics. We even send expired produce to cattle farms,” said Hofmann.
For more information:
Christine Hofmann
Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market
+1 215 336 3003