A lot of fruit and vegetables go in and out of Todd’s Quality Tomatoes Inc.’s facility in Sanford, Florida each week, including carrots. “We go through quite a bit of produce,” said Julie Miller, Vice President. The supply of carrots, currently, coming mostly out of California, Miller says, is good and looking healthy.
Prices are on the high side for California supply due to the recent flooding and fires. “Right now we’re waiting until they recover. Market price on carrots are about $23.50/50lbs which is on the high side for a carrot.” They try and purchase as much as they can from within the state to support local, but Miller says farming in Florida has declined, although it’s still about a 16.3 million dollar industry for the state. “There’s a lot of competition in this industry and everybody’s trying to do the best they can to provide quality product.”
The 33,000 sq. ft. building is filled every Friday and empty by the following Friday with produce. Nothing is stored. “We order based on the week or even the year prior.” A lot of their seven school district orders are turned in three days ahead of when they load the trucks in California, which take three days to arrive. The company is also responsible for supplying wholesale to all the military establishments in Florida. “Produce is usually already sold before we get it,” she said. Todd’s Tomatoes receives carrots in every form: 50lb bags, 1lb mini peeled bags, 5lb mini peeled bags, heirloom carrots, carrots with tops, shredded, matchsticks, diced, and Julienne.
For more information:
Julie Miller, V.P.
Todd's Quality Tomatoes, Inc.
Ph: 407-321-4476