Buyers Find Value At Hunts Point

QUALITY, VARIETY, KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE BENEFIT SAVVY BUYERS WHO USE HUNTS POINT PRODUCE MARKET.

Hunts Point Produce remains essential to the produce buying community, offering unmatched access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets. As an open terminal market occupying 113 acres and housing 27 merchants, it allows buyers to source fresh produce from a diverse net-work of trusted growers and shippers from around the world.

The combination of location, sourcing, and experience makes Hunts Point an irreplaceable resource in today’s produce industry. “Many businesses are family-owned and operated, bringing generations of hands-on experience, deep product knowledge, and trusted relationships to offer buyers added value,” says Stephanie Tramutola, director of marketing and administration at A&J Produce Corp.

The sheer volume and pace of Hunts Point means freshness and value for buyers. “We turn our inventory three to four times a week,” says Ira Nathel, president and owner of Nathel & Nathel. “We’re all about the turn. We don’t wait for the market to react – we sell what we have today because we have more coming tomorrow.”

FIVE KEY AREAS HIGHLIGHT THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE WHO SHOP HUNTS POINT

FIVE REASONS TO SHOP HUNTS POINT
1. Expect Great Quality
2. Immediate Product Availability
3. Variety
4. Generations Of Experience
5. Personalized Service

ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCT

Hunts Point’s location means it’s accessible to the entire Northeastern U.S. region. “We are centrally located in a region with a large, concentrated population,” says Joel Fierman, president of Fierman Produce and co-president of the Hunts Point Wholesale Market Board. “We serve an extensive geographic area from New York City to upstate New York to Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and even to Boston.”

Nathel explains with increasing delivery service offered by many Hunts Point merchants, buyers who don’t want to drive to New York City can call in and order. “We ship it to them,” he says. “We are their warehouse and being their warehouse, we are also their eyes. They trust we’ll send them good product.”

Product availability is a critical component of procurement where timing and freshness equal money. “Our customers benefit from instant access to product, whether filling last-minute orders, replacing delayed shipments, or responding to demand spikes,” says Tramutola. “When dealing with perishable items, especially during peak seasons, holidays, or weather disruptions, this level of product availability is what truly sets Hunts Point apart. As wholesalers, it’s our duty to ensure our customers keep their shelves stocked and operations running smoothly.”

The cost of warehousing is tremendous in New York City and the boroughs, explains Fierman. “The beauty of Hunts Point is our customers can shop multiple times a week and have continual availability of fresh product on a daily basis without the cost of storing it.”

PRODUCT VARIETY AND VALUE

The market provides everything from staple to specialty items. “Product variety is extremely important,” says Tramutola. “At Hunts Point, the breadth of offerings is unmatched from traditional, staple items to specialty produce.”

Hunts Point also provides choice in who the buyer does business with. “If I sell a buyer some strawberries and they don’t like my berries today, then tomorrow they can go to someone else on the market,” says Nathel. “That’s another great benefit for them.”

Buyers can find quality product for a reasonable price on a consistent basis. “The market has always been economics 101 — supply and demand,” says Fierman. “We always have good supply and demand with competitive pricing. And, another difference between Hunts Point and direct is that buyers only take what they need. It reduces shrink dramatically.”

CUSTOMER SERVICE

In the city that never sleeps, Hunts Point also rarely sleeps, with many merchants offering almost 24/7 available service. “In general, the market pretty much runs from Sunday morning until Friday late continually,” says Fierman.

Offering great service to support customers is a Hunts Point tenet. “The customer is our friend,” says Nathel. “We want to give the highest customer service, so buyers want to shop with us.”

Hunts Point merchants offer specialized services, including delivery and repacking, to meet the unique needs of each customer. “As wholesalers, we act as trusted middlemen, bridging the gap between growers and buyers with flexibility and precision,” says Tramutola. “This level of support helps customers streamline their operations, reduce waste, and keep shelves stocked with fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables.”

Delivery service is common in the market, including different types. “In addition to our bigger trucks, we use sprinter vans to deliver small fill-in orders,” says Nathel. “It’s a lot more efficient, and we can still take care of the customer.”

Some market merchants offer in-store retail services. “We, along with a few others, offer retail merchandisers for customers,” says Nathel.

GENERATIONAL EXPERTISE

The knowledge customers gain from Hunts Point merchants is incredibly valuable, offering real-time insights into market trends, pricing, and availability. “We guide customers to make informed decisions,” says Tramutola. “This expertise helps buyers manage inventory, adapt quickly to demand, and uphold quality standards. In a fast-paced industry, this level of guidance provides a clear competitive edge.”

The products available at the market reflect the expertise. “We know what’s available at any given time and what’s going to be good for our customers,” says Fierman. “We’re sourcing and offering products based on our experience. It’s what we’ve done generationally.”

Many Hunts Point companies are family-owned and operated and in the third or fourth generation of management. Nathel shares that particularly the newer generations at the market are vested in sharing information. “They’re very savvy about posting product information on social media,” he says. “For example, when our Sycamore honeydew label becomes available or cherries are going to hit a great-buy price, they let customers know it’s a great time to buy and promote.”

STRONG SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS

Daily contact with customers, shippers, and growers around the world allows Hunts Point merchants to stay ahead of changes in market conditions. “As wholesalers meeting constant demand, Hunts Point merchants are fortunate to have strong relationships with growers and shippers,” says Tramutola. “This allows us to source fresh produce during any given growing season. Our global network ensures our customers can depend on us for consistency, quality, and variety every day of the year.”

Wholesaler relationships with shippers keep the market in supply, adds Fierman. “Without relationships, at any given time, someone can be sold out,” he says. “But I know if I call my shippers even if it’s a hot market, they’ll give me product based on our relationship. We’re never without product. We really value our grower-shipper relationships. Those growing product put a lot of blood sweat and tears into the farms, and we admire what they do.”

Market pricing on average is cheaper than most direct-buy pricing, according to Nathel, due in great part to grower relationships. “Although there are fluctuations at times,” he says. “Our great pricing is due to how we work through our relationships with our shippers as well as the volume we buy. We also work with shippers to help negotiate special sales or deals for specific customers at certain times for promotion.”