READING, PA - If you know Jim Hickey, you know that he is as fun and candid as he is dedicated and passionate about produce. And most of his emails are fully fleshed out in the subject line—before you even come to the body. With a career spanning nearly 50 years in retail, it is hard to begin to tell Jim’s story, but if I could sum it up in one phrase, it would be: In a business built on things that don’t last, Jim Hickey proved that what endures is how you show up—honest, relentless, and grounded in respect for every hand that brings life to the table.
From mopping a grocery store floor at 15 to leading a team and culture that reveres and adores him at Redner’s Markets, Jim’s career in fresh produce is one to mirror. As he approaches retirement from his role as Senior Buyer on March 20, 2026, Jim joins me to look back on a career well lived, and what comes next.
“In my opinion, working in produce is the most exciting and interesting thing you can do. There are real people behind every curtain in this business,” Jim begins. “Farmers with calloused hands and dirty boots who haven’t had solid time off in a lifetime. Field workers with families, sometimes thousands of miles away, performing unimaginable tasks for hours on end. Truck drivers going coast to coast numerous times per month in just three to four days. Salespeople trying to find a balance between buyer satisfaction and profit for their charge—24 hours a day. Buyers determined to ‘get inventory turns.’ Warehouse workers breaking down loads and selecting product for redistribution. Administrative staff, on so many levels, accounting for the money to get it all done. It is all a chaotic masterpiece.”
Beautifully said, but I would expect nothing less from Jim. His heart and soul have been in every transaction since he started managing them. Though Jim would be quick to correct my use of the word transaction—the man is all about relationships.
Looking back, Jim has learned many lessons and values from his career, and he hopes the next generation of produce professionals carries the sanctity of relationships forward.
“Pick up the phone and SPEAK to people. Get boots on the ground at any opportunity for any part of the process. Grow a Victory Garden and ask yourself whether your end product would pass inspection and/or fill an order to satisfy the larger community,” he reflects. “Be respectful of everyone in the process. Admire a farmer/grower for what they are.”
Jim, you have had an incredible decades-long career in fresh produce retail, rising from store clerk to trusted buyer and leader at Redner’s Markets, where you spent years sourcing product directly from the Philadelphia market, guiding teams, and fostering deep relationships across the supply chain, grounded in experience, resilience, and respect for the industry.
Congratulations on all you have accomplished, the relationships you have made, and the next chapter to come.
