Education • 6 min read
How Produce Sourcing Works
Produce moves from field to dock through more hands than most categories. Knowing where the decisions happen helps buyers ask for the right things at the right time.
The path from field to dock
Growers produce the crop, packing houses grade and pack it, shippers sell it out of the region, and distributors like Atlantic Fresh source across shippers and regions to cover a buyer's program.
Why a distributor sits in the middle
- Access to multiple regions and shippers on one request
- Coverage as growing deals transition
- Multi-commodity consolidation instead of many vendor relationships
- Transportation coordination
Imported programs
Imported produce extends the calendar and depends on crossing infrastructure. Warehouses in Progresso Lakes, Texas and Nogales, Arizona support that side of our business.
Where lead time pays
Ad volume, organic programs and specialty items are the three places where extra lead time changes the outcome most. The earlier a sourcing request lands, the more options exist.
What to include in a request
- Commodity and variety
- Volume and frequency
- Pack preference and an acceptable alternative
- Delivery city and state
- Date needed by
Need something confirmed?
This guide is general education. For current availability, pack options or anything specific to your program, talk to the Atlantic Fresh sales team.