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LOS ANGELES MARKET PROFILE
PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA’S PRODUCE
and ships them through a convenient Long Beach location near both highways and the port.
“We do not bring anything in from Asia,” says akker. “We sell mainly on the West Coast. We are a grower-shipper and sell to retailers, wholesalers and distributors. We grow in the Coachella Valley, Fresno, Mexico and Central America.”
Re ecting the city’s changing population,
the variety of ethnic fruits and vegetables is coming to de ne the produce business in Los Angeles.
“We are growing as a country in diver- sity by migration and immigration of the food culture in the United States, and by the demand that increases,” says Robert Schueller, director of public relations at Melissa’s/World Variety Produce, Vernon, CA. “ e market is more diverse than it was a decade ago as
“Your new ethnic markets
are being served by
mainstream retailers
more and more to keep
up with the ever-changing
demographics in America.”
— Robert Schueller, Melissa’s/World Variety
consumers look for more variety and ethnic produce options.”
Joe and Sharon Hernandez have built the Melissa’s business to occupy more than seven acres of warehouse space by making good on their promise: Delivering the Global Market.
“Melissa’s Produce is known for our retail business across all 50 states,” says Schueller. “We do foodservice on a more limited basis in Southern California, Las Vegas and a few sporting venues around the country. e L.A. Market gives Melissa’s opportunities when there is a good season or surplus of speci c produce. It allows for quick turnaround of produce o ers when there is signi cant change in usual schedules due to weather extremes or other natural disasters that will a ect supplies.”
Supermarkets in much of the nation are carrying an increasing variety of ethnic produce items, and Melissa’s nds its Los Angeles location ideal for receiving and ship- ping to these outlets around the country.
“Your new ethnic markets are being served by mainstream retailers more and more to keep up with the ever-changing demo- graphics in America,” says Schueller. “One of the largest, most diverse is the L.A. Market,
158 / OCTOBER 2018 / PRODUCE BUSINESS