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P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y 1 1 S u n d a y, O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 5 ABLE FREIGHT SERVICES, INC.: CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE CORNERSTONE Many companies tout that they have the "best customer service" in their respec- tive industries, but what does this truly mean? At Able Freight Services, the leading perishable freight forwarder based in Los Angeles, customer service has been at the core of the company vision from the day the business was founded back in 1992. At Able, cus- tomer service truly means creating a memorable experience for customers that starts from a solid understanding of their business. Able Freight designs a logistics solution that is steeped in cre- ativity and unique for each and every customer. The company has also invest- ed a great deal of energy developing strong working relationships with air- line partners, since Able Freight's suc- cess is predicated upon their perform- ance. Innovation also plays a very prominent role in Able's history. Whether it was an early establishment of a 24/7 cus- tomer service center, the early adoption of data loggers or the development of Kold Kart technology to protect perishables while on the air- plane ramp, Able Freight Services has continued to invest in opportunities that the company believes will change the way the industry does busi- ness. This is a sign a leadership and confidence in the future of the industry. This mindset has allowed the busi- ness to grow at double-digit growth rates for the past 23 years, to the point where Able Freight Services is now the largest freight forwarder on the West Coast in terms of raw tonnage. The company has state-of-the- art cold chain facilities in Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Guadalajara (GDL) and throughout the Hawaiian islands. The company's cus- tomer service teams take a great deal of pride in being available 24/7 to handle any problem that arises, so shippers' expectations are met day in and day out. Able Freight Services is always fresh, always able. Contact Able Freight Services at booth #1929 and go online to www.able freight.com. FROM THE FIELD TO THE NEW SAN ANTONIO WHOLESALE PRODUCE MARKET Produce growers, especially those from Mexico, are finding that the new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market is the perfect gateway to sell their produce directly from the field into the Texas markets and nearby states. Case study: Texanos Produce, LLC Although new to the United States, Texanos Produce team has been operat- ing in Mexico City for over 30 years. In addition, Texanos Produce has a second subdivision in Puebla, Mexico, for the past 15 years. For the next five to 10 years, Texanos Produce's goal is to further its business by adding more distribution points in the United States, such as Louisiana, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Alabama. Some of the produce it's planning to sell is based on Latin cuisine, such as tomatoes, a variety of hot pep- pers, coriander, parsley, scallions, broc- coli, avocado, lemon and seasonal pro- duce. "Our main interest is to inform the customer that our product is directly from the field without any intermediary, and that it is completely fresh, of high quali- ty, and the length of life is much higher. This is because the same day we cut the product, it is processed and shipped to San Antonio, so the price will be much more competitive than many," says Joaquin del Olmo, Owner. Case study: GR Fresh & 5 Reyes. Grupo GR, parent company of GR Fresh and 5 Reyes is headquar- tered in Torreon, Mexico, and has been an important grower in Mexico since the early 1940s. With its brand- new distribution point with- in the new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market opening new opportuni- ties, Grupo GR is putting itself closer to strategic partners, not only in San Antonio but also the rest of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and many other areas. Over the next five to 10 years, Grupo GR plans to position GR Fresh and 5 Reyes brands as first choices for super- markets and foodservice customers. Some of the produce they will be offering in San Antonio includes Roma tomatoes, round and grape tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, bell peppers, carrots, broc- coli and eggplant. "First and foremost we are growers. More than 75 percent of all we do comes from our own farms. The other 25 per- cent comes from relationships developed over several decades," says Danny Canady, General Manager. Case study: Avodiaz Avodiaz is a new name in the United States, but is backed up by over 30 years of experience growing avocados in Michoacán, Mexico. The company is excited to be part of the new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market because of its strategic location in the heart of Texas and the new state-of- the-art warehouse it will operate in. Avodiaz plans to position itself as a leading avocado wholesaler and distribu- tor in the San Antonio Market with the best avocados from Michoacán, Mexico. "We handle top quality avocados straight from our fields in Michoacán; therefore they are dealing directly with the growers,v" says Juan Islas Diaz, General Manager for the United States. For more information, visit booth #2715, go to www.sawpm.com/en or call Luz Moreno at 210.865.0683. SUN PACIFIC INTRODUCES VINTAGE NAVEL ORANGES Debuting from Sun Pacific ® this year are Vintage Sweets heirloom navel oranges. Harvested from Sun Pacific's old line of navel orange groves, these oranges' brix level is individually tested for high sugar content. "Consumers are looking for produce that provides superior quality and flavor for an exceptional eating experience, and they are willing to pay a premium price for it. That is exactly what Vintage Sweets provide," says Bob DiPiazza, President of Sun Pacific. "Our selection process for these oranges combines sen- sory aspects like touching, feeling and smelling the fruit, with the science of testing of sugar levels to ensure just the right characteristics for that juicy, sweet perfection." Vintage Sweets are available in bulk, as well as three-pound Giro bags and six-count shrink-wrapped trays. This beautiful, super- sweet fruit is gift-worthy, especially the six-count shrink-wrapped trays. Founded in 1969, Sun Pacific is a leading grower, packer and shipper of fruit with more than 70 million boxes of fresh fruit sold each year. Sun Pacific is the owner of America's most preferred brand of mandarins, Cuties ® . Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Sun Pacific is the largest kiwi fruit and navel orange grower/shipper in North America, the second largest producer of toma- toes in California and renowned for its exceptional quality Air Chief label table grapes. For more information, visit booth #415 or go to www.sunpacific.com. THE AMERIFRESH ADVANTAGE IN THE FIELD For fresh produce marketer Amerifresh, it's all about having people in the fields to check out the local markets. "We are source-based, meaning we are on the ground actually looking at the product," said Rick Harris, Senior Director of Food Service Sales. "We can verify the quality of the product first- hand, which makes a huge difference to our customers." Harris says a lot of Amerifresh's competitors conduct business with the growers strictly by phone. "If you're not in the field, you can't verify the true qual- ity of the product," he said. Having representatives at the source in every major growing area in the U.S. gives Amerifresh a major advantage in the competitive produce marketing arena. "Our people in the branches are experts on the produce grown in their area," said Harris. "They keep a close eye on local market conditions and the quali- ty in the field, which allows them to best match customers' needs and expectations to the product." Amerifresh offers customers a true independent voice from the best growing areas in the U.S. and can do all the work of finding the best quality and deals for customers. Harris said sometimes it's not just about price. There is usually a price spread for a product in a certain region that can be affected by the quality, the quantity and even the size of the acreage produced by the grower. In addi- tion, because Amerifresh buys such a huge volume from so many growers, the company can offer its customers the advantage of consistent quality through- out the year, even when supply is scarce. Amerifresh's seven individual branches specialize in handling the prod- ucts grown in their region. Their proxim- ity to the fields, orchards and production areas allows the branch's quality assur- ance staff to take an active role in deter- mining what growers, fields or blocks of fields are chosen for cus- tomers. Being so close to the source, quality assur- ance staff can assure that raw product attributes meet strict written standards and specifi- cations before packing. The active role Amerifresh takes on its customers' behalf means that customers receive produce with consistently high-quality levels of freshness, color, size and flavor. Amerifresh delivers this any time of year to anywhere it is needed, regardless of weather or seasons. "If we are not saving customers time and trouble, we are not doing our job," said Harris. For more information, visit booth #2852 at Fresh Summit or visit online at www.amerifresh.com.