Retailers

The most familiar piece of the produce puzzle, retailers are the final stop in the supply chain where a consumer is able to purchase what the growers harvested. The retail community includes large chain stores (Kroger Company, Safeway, Albertsons), supercenters (Wal-Mart, Target), warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's), as well as specialty stores (Wild Oats, Whole Foods) and small local establishments.

Retailers that sell a large quantity of produce usually have a dedicated staff for produce procurement, merchandising and marketing, not to mention specialized distribution and logistic teams and facilities.

Foodservice Operators

A rapidly growing community, foodservice includes operations of all sizes and scope; restaurants ranging from quick-serve to white table cloth, as well as hospitals, cruise ships, hotels, schools, theme parks, prisons and much more.

With the addition of controlled temperature storage lending itself to extended product shelf-life and the prevalence of fresh-cut produce as a means to decrease labor costs, this segment of business continues to thrive with numerous advanced technologies and value-added products.