SALINAS, CA - Although the cooler days of fall and winter here in the Northern Hemisphere seem like a far-off dream, they are quickly approaching, and with them comes the need for back-to-school options as well as ingredients for holiday meals. For buyers, that means looking ahead and stockpiling the shelves for shoppers, and Tanimura & Antle has you covered with its high-quality celery, a must-have category year-round.
“With kids going back to school soon, promote celery as a healthy snack to pack into school lunches with peanut butter or cream cheese with fun toppings to draw shoppers in and inspire impulse purchases,” Ashley Pipkin, Director of Marketing, explains. “Likewise, Fall is right around the corner, so you can promote celery with common soup ingredients like broth, herbs, carrots, and other soup staples to maximize sales in your produce department.”
It’s no doubt that with so many applications and chances to merchandise celery, retailers and consumers alike need strong supplies to meet demand. Luckily, Steve Souza, Senior Product Manager, tells me that yields have been high, creating promotional volumes throughout the entire season.
On top of its steady volumes, the grower has been producing tremendous quality crops. This is in part due to mildly cool temperatures, which are great for celery growth, in the company’s Northern Salinas Valley, California, harvesting region.
To ensure that it continues to provide its customers with the best possible produce, Steve assures me that Tanimura & Antle is prepared to conquer whatever hurdles may come its way—especially following the challenges of the past year.
“Like everyone else in the industry, we faced pallet shortages and high transportation costs. However, we effectively managed the shortage with our internal purchasing team's dedication and with the help and guidance of our valued suppliers,” Steve explains. “Because we provide a wide variety of benefits to all employees, we’re able to ensure consistent recruitment and retainment, mitigating labor issues in our Salinas growing region each season.”
With summer days dwindling and fall beginning to take shape on the horizon, now is the perfect time to start preparing your produce aisles for autumn merchandising. And when it comes time to plan your celery displays, Tanimura & Antle has the quality and volume to keep you stocked all season long.
