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CHICAGO MARKET PROFILE
Chicago International Produce Market:
“The Midwest Source For Fresh”
Wholesalers stay significant with freshness, variety and valuable service.
Cby Jodean Robbins
hicago’s vibrant food retail and restaurant sectors require a reli- able, quality source of produce. For decades, the old South Water Market, designed and built in the
1920s, served the community. However, in 2003, Chicago produce wholesalers proudly relocated to a state-of-the-art terminal market to continue providing the best-quality fruits and vegetables to an increasingly demanding marketplace.
Today, the Chicago International Produce Market (CIPM) houses close to 20 different businesses in one convenient location. “The Market plays a key role in supplying Chicagoland retailers with the finest variety of produce,” says Greg Kirwan, sales at La Hacienda Brands. “Through sourcing the freshest produce from around the world, the market offers the widest variety of produce, thus playing a very important role in the success of the retailers and restaurants.”
The 450,000-square-foot facility features 99 loading docks and modern refrigeration space. “This progressive facility has a lot to offer,” says Mark Pappas, president of Coose- mans Chicago. “Our spaciousness means we can get trucks in and out easily.”
The Market continues to be the most viable source of wholesale vending for both Chicago, surrounding suburbs, and even surrounding states, asserts Francine Cossyleon, chief communications officer at La Galera Produce. “With direct connec- tions both in the United States and outside the border, the market has been the freshest source of produce for even the biggest grocery giants,” she says.
VARIETY IN CUSTOMER BASE
Kirwan reports a vast collection of buyers utilizing the Market these days. “From retail
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buyers to foodservice procurement directors to small mom-and-pop stores, they all shop at the Market on a daily basis,” he says. “All these groups play an important role in the cycle of business.”
One example of new types of customers frequenting the Market are street vendors, according to Kirwan. “The Market has a following of customers that buy and resell fruits and vegetable year round at flea markets and street corners,” he says. “This group of customers plays an important role at the market. They allow the market merchants an outlet for certain fruits and vegetables.”
Geographically, the market has expanded its reach as well. “We have great customers coming up from Indiana and Wisconsin every day because we offer things they don’t have access to in their own areas,” notes Pappas.
Chicago’s diverse customer makeup is reflected in CIPM’s business. “The larger customer base gives us more opportunity to sell wider variety,” says TJ Fleming, vice pres- identanddirectorofsalesatStrubeCelery & Vegetable Co. “Indian produce has grown, and we’ve expanded tropicals and Mexican produce. Even the bigger stores that do FOB buying, still come here for some of the prod- ucts they can’t find.”
FRESHNESS, QUALITY, VALUE
CIPM merchants have been providing fresh produce to the Midwest for many decades, with some wholesalers dating back to the early years of the last century. Their busi- nesses have evolved based on quality, variety and value. “Some of the main reasons retail and foodservice buyers shop at the Market include quality, competitive pricing, variety and availability,” says Kirwan. “Wholesalers provide a daily service of the highest-quality produce that buyers can inspect and see hands-on.”
Constant movement of produce through the market plays a vital role in keeping Chicago’s produce scene fresh, explains Pappas. “We are close enough to provide high quality to Chicago buyers,” says Pappas. “Since we’re in the middle of the country, we bring product in from the East Coast, Cali- fornia or Canada at good rates and freshness.”
Getting the most for the money is another benefit buyers find at the Market. “There’s a lotofvalueonthismarket,”assertsFleming. “There are opportunity buys, and a retailer can get product at a good value.”
Customized service and experience are other benefits of dealing with local whole- salers. “Companies such as La Galera have