The fourth Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class saw first-hand the increasing complexity of the produce logistics and distribution system with a tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) and Holt Logistics on March 22, 2022.
“This tour is the kick-off event of our leadership program and provides crucial insight into these parts of the supply chain,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director.
The EPC Leadership Class kicked off its program with a tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and Holt Logistics.
“This tour is the kick-off event of our leadership program and provides crucial insight into these parts of the supply chain,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director.
The group began at PWPM with a presentation on the market’s function and benefits from Mark Smith, PWPM general manager. Smith explained how the fully enclosed facility harnesses technology and why it is unique in the terminal market arena.
The next stop was Holt Logistics Corp at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ. Sander Daniel, marketing at Holt, explained the various facilities and the value added services encompassing the Philadelphia port. “Geographically we are in the largest economic region on the planet,” he said. “We are also adjacent to the second largest DC hub in the U.S. Additionally, we are skilled at handling perishables - about 55 percent of imported containers at Packer Marine Terminal are refrigerated and we have on-dock CBP-Ag inspection facilities.”
Participants gleaned insights from the tour. “I loved learning about the different areas of the port and how there are specific USDA and fumigation areas as well as learning that the turnaround time at the port does not begin until the container is unloaded, transferred in ownership and plugged in,” said Noelle Neary, category manager, Wakefern in Elizabeth, NJ.
Mark Levin of M. Levin Co. at PWPM speaks to the class.
Daniel escorted participants to some areas of the port including a tour of the DelMonte facility by John McCann, vice-president Northeast Region for Del Monte Fresh Produce and EPC member.
“This is my first time visiting a facility like DelMonte’s,” said Dan Oettinger, retail supervisor, JOH. "It’s been eye-opening to see what it takes to secure delivery of products.”
Participants include: Mohammed Bouzaidi, Global Fresh Vision LLC; John Carapella, Jr., Sierra Produce; Shanna Deegan, Suja Juice; Catherine DeLettera, Zespri; Louis Getzelman, Canyon Sales Company LLC; Patrick Hallock, Four Seasons Produce; Brendan Haslam, Bolthouse Farms; Peter Machala, Wakefern Food Corp.; Krystal McCusker, The Oppenheimer Group; Juliet Moran, Suja Juice; Noelle Neary, Wakefern Food Corp.; Dan Oettinger, JOH Metro; Garett Sebor, Key Food Stores; Kate Watson, The Oppenheimer Group; and Shawn Wen, Zespri. Also participating in the tour was EPC vice-president Theresa Lowden, executive vice-president produce & floral at JOH and EPC board member Al Murray.
For more information:
Susan McAleavey Sarlund
Eastern Produce Council
Tel: +1 (908) 723-0645
easternproducecouncil@gmail.com
https://www.easternproducecouncil.com/