<p>B&B Imports, sister company of Dave’s Specialty Imports, is <B>expanding its business westward</b> with the opening of a new brokerage office in Visalia, California. The Cincinnati-based importer has served a number of retail and wholesale customers since 1996, according to a press release. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img style="float:left; width:175px" class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/tonyt.jpg" alt="cropped 052014" />Mike Bowe, President of B&B Imports, has brought in produce veteran <B>Tony Taviano</b>, along with a sales team, to manage the B&B’s expansion into the brokerage business. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“My father and I have known Tony for many years. When he approached us with this idea for B&B we knew he was someone we could trust to take the company into a new direction,” Bowe commented. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In the last several years the company has played a supportive role in the success of Dave’s Specialty Imports. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Taviano is beginning his <B>28th season</b> based in Visalia, California, sourcing product from Nogales, Coachella, and the San Joaquin Valley. The produce veteran has expertly sourced a variety of grapes, cherries, stone fruit, citrus, melons, clementines, and pears. Taviano is utilizing a well-established network of growers, shippers, and on-ground inspectors, and makes a point to personally inspect much of the product himself, prior to its shipment to a wide range of domestic receivers and export accounts.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Taviano met and worked with Dave and Mike Bowe in the 1980’s while working as a head Field Merchandiser and Account Development manager at Ritter Bros. in Bellefontaine, Ohio. In early 1986, Dave Bowe was even a groomsman in Taviano’s wedding just before he left the Midwest for Visalia.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“It has been 28 years since I worked with Mike and Dave at Ritter Bros., and I am honored by the opportunity to work with them again. I’m excited about developing business for B&B in a market that I know very well. I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,“ remarked Taviano. Bowe added, “Tony is a well-respected member of the produce community and brings a lot of experience and momentum to the expansion of B&B. We are delighted he could join us and help our family businesses grow.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congratulations B&B Imports and Dave’s Specialty Imports on your growing footprint from coast to coast.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.mydaves.com/produce.php" target="_new">Dave’s Specialty Imports</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
