OVIEDO, FL - It has been a century since the Duda family started building its now towering presence in Florida soil, and as the industry prepares to celebrate the Southeast at the upcoming Southern Innovations, hosted by the Southeast Produce Council, I connected with John Alderman, Director of Eastern Sales, on the company’s latest.
“The Southeast is our home and plays a critical role in Duda’s production strategy. Our proximity to customers throughout the Southeast region allows us to deliver fresh products efficiently while helping customers meet consumer demand for quality, value, trustworthy, and consistent supply. In addition to our keystone products—celery, corn, radish, lettuce and leaf—Duda’s fresh-cut program is a key differentiator and speaks directly to our category leadership, reliability, and ability to meet consumer demand when it’s at its peak from Thanksgiving to the big game in February,” John tells me.
His words herald the plans already in motion for the holiday season and what’s to come for celery and veg demand in just a matter of weeks. John shares that the supplier is already working to reliably supply buyers.
“The holiday season is won by strategic planning, open communication, and strong supply partnerships long before holiday demand begins to peak,” he points out. “At Duda Farm Fresh Foods, we’re working closely with our customers now to align forecasted demand, promotional opportunities, and production plans to meet the imminent demand of gathering families and friends across the country this fall and throughout the winter months. We are actively engaging buyers and providing visibility into crop conditions, expected availability, and market dynamics so they can plan with confidence.”
John explains that it’s Duda’s regional production footprint, combined with integrated operations, that allows it to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs. Meanwhile, the team is continuing to see growth in demand for fresh-cut celery, drawing good expectations for the fall and winter. Celery’s peak consumption continues to stretch from October through springtime, with an extra push for local product.
“We know there is a strong interest in regional sourcing from trusted growers who provide supply chain resiliency and operational efficiency. Our customers need partners who can provide transparency, consistency and flexibility while helping reduce the complexities of the supply chain,” John states.
It is an exciting time of year for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, galvanized by Southern Innovations’ September kickoff.
“After starting our growing business in Florida 100 years ago, we couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to continue to serve this precious region of the USA with our farm fresh vegetables. As we head into the season, we’re excited to work alongside our customers and industry partners to continue to bring fresh, high-quality produce to the Southeast and markets spanning the country,” John concluded. “It is our absolute pleasure!”
Shake hands with Duda in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 11, when you swing by booth #416 at the Music City Center.
Companies in this Story
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc
What started out as the pursuit of the American dream by Andrew Duda, a young Slovak immigrant, has become one the…
