GREENCASTLE, PA - Love is in the air, a bright crispness is felt, and the fresh produce industry continues to bloom. Progressive Produce’s Keystone Fruit Marketing division is continuing to spread the love for the month and fresh produce with another interview by its very own Sales and Marketing Manager Andrea Scroggs. This time, she’s with Mike Blume, Vice President of Sales, to dive into his love and career with fresh produce.
“Our mission at Keystone is to provide safe, high-quality, fresh produce from growers to customers on a year-round basis. And that is challenging,” Blume started. “We can’t afford to let up. Our customers depend on us. Our growers rely on us. We will always work hard, every day—we have to.”
Blume started with the industry in the mid-’80s, loading and unloading trucks overnight for a wholesaler in Connecticut. After a couple of years, he moved into the office, and the company taught him the buying and selling side of the business.
“Today, I still refer back to those first two years on the loading docks—I learned so much! In the years to follow, working for a wholesaler, then a major retailer, I continued to learn—you never stop learning in this industry,” Blume continued. “And for the last 19 years, I have been very fortunate to work for Keystone! Keystone has Great People, we are a Great Company, and we have a Great Future.”
When he was first hired at Keystone, one of Blume’s responsibilities was to manage the company’s peach commodity. From then, it was love at first sell.
“I’ve sold a lot of peaches over the years. And I still love selling them today!” beamed Blume. “I enjoy selling apples and onions too, but it’s just something about peaches. Maybe it’s the pressure of supply vs. demand with peaches, but when my customers and grower partners have successful years, it’s so rewarding!”
Eager to learn more about this peachy man? Check out the full interview here.
Stay alert and in tune with the industry as we continue to report.
