EPC Leadership Class Tours Philly Port and Wholesale Market

Members of the 2025 Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class viewed the complexity of the supply chain first-hand during a March 18 tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) and Holt Logistics.

The day began at the Philly wholesale market with a presentation by PWPM’s Marketing Coordinator Christine Hofmann on the market’s development and role in the produce business.

The second stop of the day was a visit to Holt Logistics Corp. at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ, where Sam Ecker, business development, presented a comprehensive summary of the various facilities of the Philadelphia area ports.

After lunch, the group toured the Gloucester Marine Terminal to learn about the processes for imported products and inspections.

Participants selected for the 2025 program include: Marcus Albinder of Hudson River Fruit Distributors; Susie Alvarez of Dayka + Hackett; Christine Consales of Dole Fresh Fruit; Geoffrey Gero of House Foods; Drew Hennemuth of Four Seasons Produce; Garrett Josephson of Farm-Wey Produce; Drew Koeppel of Katzman Distribution; Nathan Kreiser of Four Seasons Produce; Justin Leis of CJ Brothers Inc.; Michael Lovera Jr. of JOH; Emily Naples of JOH; Tyler Schneider of Cleveland Kitchen; Taylor Sears of LGS; Aleksander Skarzynski of Wakefern Food Corp.; Casey Spencer of John Vena, Inc.; Paul Williamson of Highline Mushrooms; and Matt Zapczynski of Idaho Potato Commission.

Also participating in the tour were: Theresa Lowden of JOH, current EPC president; Vic Savanello of S. Katzman Produce Distributors, EPC leadership committee chair and past EPC president; and Al Murray, EPC board member.