Demand for Michigan Produce Stays Strong

Michigan’s geography boosts fresh produce quality.

Like counterparts across the country, retail in Michigan has been evolving for both chain and independent stores as they cope with changing consumer demand and operational challenges. But being surrounded by lots of produce production and other key links in the food chain provides an advantage.

Busch’s Fresh Food Market, a family-owned supermarket operation with 16 stores in southeast Michigan, is celebrating its 50th anniversary year with initiatives, including a local tasting event in its two Ann Arbor stores, giving customers the chance to meet local food providers and sample their products.

Local products are a focus for Busch. The company emphasizes consumers will find a broad assortment of local and specialty products across its fresh produce department. As the company characterizes it, every store, which ranges in size from 26,000 to 51,000 square feet, operates as a full-service, premier grocer.

Over the past few years, Busch has been involved in a store remodeling program. Last year, its Novi, MI, supermarket expanded into an old Rite-Aid space, adding about 12,000 additional square feet, which allowed Busch to upgrade the produce department.

“Our annual investments in store improvements are about more than just enhancing the shopping experience: They’re about deepening our connection to the communities that have supported us for half a century,” says Busch’s Fresh Food Market President Bobby Turner. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on delivering quality, service and local impact well into the future.”

Each day, Busch’s buyers hand-select produce directly from the Detroit Produce Terminal. It also partners with more than 20 Michigan farmers.

Our produce department is more than just a place to shop, it’s a reflection of our commitment to freshness, seasonality, and strong partnerships with local growers.

– Bobby Turner, Busch’s Fresh Food Market, Ann Arbor, MI

“At Busch’s, our produce department is more than just a place to shop, it’s a reflection of our commitment to freshness, seasonality, and strong partnerships with local growers,” Turner says. “We take pride in delivering the kind of hand-selected quality and hometown service that has defined us for 50 years.”

LOCAL BUY-IN

Also in Ann Arbor, with its three operations in town, Argus Farm Stop has built its business by working directly with local growers who work on a modified consignment arrangement designed to maximize their return. Dani Cavagnaro, produce manager, says that, as winter played out, the retailer was preparing for local spring radishes, green onions and asparagus. Spring also means greens from local hoop houses or high tunnels.

For years, Argus, which only uses local Michigan produce, had to content itself with root vegetables and storage commodities in the winter. Now, greenhouses and other controlled atmosphere growing facilities that can produce fruits and vegetables in the winter are providing lettuce, kale and herbs, in addition to some other commodities, like mini cucumbers. However, because of its mission to support local growers, Argus gives priority to soil growers as soon as it can in the warming weather.

As prices for produce rose recently under the influence of the economy and Mother Nature, Argus gained some advantage as it competes with other food retailers.

“My perception of it is, because grocery prices have generally gone up, at some point it closed the gap,” she says. “If you’re going to a big box store and buying produce, you’re paying more now. It doesn’t seem like you have to pay more for local produce. And local produce helps your local economy.”

Argus wants to support growers who use organic production methods, but recognizes not all small growers can afford the costs associated with organic certification. As a result, Argus embraces growers who grow using sustainable and organic methods, even if they aren’t certified.

“Certification is expensive and intense,” says Cavagnaro. “Many of our farms operate organically, but can’t afford certification. We have personal relations with farmers. We’re only concerned with how they operate. We don’t care about having a sticker.”

MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

In the wholesale sector, Bill Loupée, chief operating officer, Ben B. Schwartz, Detroit, says the company provides a full range of fruits and vegetables with greater efficiency than ever. At its Detroit Produce Terminal location, the company has worked behind the scenes to devise solutions that can add value by offering high-quality produce that’s ready to display.

“Demand in Detroit has remained consistent,” he says. “There is a strong market here because of a blend of independent grocers and large-scale retailers. For a large city, there is a big sense of local pride and community here, and consumers like to support small businesses that deliver, so we see that independent grocers who deliver top-quality produce are thriving.”

Ben B. Schwarz has installed a custom Enterprise Resource Planning platform, dubbed Ben B. Access. It expands the company’s legacy system to expedite orders, improve delivery and automate administrative functions while aiding in data analysis that yields better purchasing forecasts.

At Riggio Distribution Co., a Detroit Produce Terminal wholesaler, President Dominic Riggio says the company is expanding to satisfy customer needs, but isn’t stepping back from its long-term partners. “Riggio Distribution continues to add products, labels, and new items to offer to our customers, while at the same time remaining loyal to the suppliers that we have relationships with for decades.”

In its business, Riggio is also working with particular consumer preferences. “Local produce is something that is supported by many in Michigan. At Riggio Distribution, we work with many local growers, and have for many years,” says Riggio. “We started with Michigan asparagus at the end of April. It is always a great time of year to start with one of the first locally grown crops.”

Jordan Vande Guchte, vice president of sales, Superior Produce, Hudsonville, MI, notes that asparagus continues on the upswing as it helps lead seasonal produce from the state. Michigan is the top asparagus-producing state.

Ken Korson, apple category manager and sales, for North Bay Produce, Traverse City, MI, says good snow cover during a cold winter gave growing conditions a boost after a couple of years when flakes were rare.

With responsibility for apples and asparagus, he says that the cold conditions were leading to a somewhat late, but normal, bloom on the trees, but in an early season that seemed to be shaping up well. Despite the chilly conditions, asparagus was looking at a normal start for North Bay.

Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Sparta, MI-based Riveridge Produce Marketing, describes the year’s cold stretch as beneficial.

“It was an ideal winter for us in Michigan,” she says. “We had the snow cover needed, and fruit trees were able to go dormant. They’re certainly waking up ready to go with the recent warm temperatures. With apples, we are evaluating bud development to determine thinning needs, and anxiously watching nighttime temps for the development of the cherries.”Riveridge is focused on being a full-year source for apples, says Taylor. “In recent years, we’ve been better able to provide fruit year-round. This is important to our customers because they want to try to provide the most local fruit to their consumers.”

People want to know where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and even who is growing it. They want to know they’re supporting a local, family operation.

– Trish Taylor, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Sparta, MI

Besides apples, Riveridge offers sweet cherries and prune plums. “Also, we’ve expanded by marketing more commodities, namely Midwest vegetables,” Taylor says.

She contends that Michigan sweet cherry volume looks to ramp over the next few years as acreage expands. “Michigan has the climate for it, and it saves on freight for Midwest and Eastern retailers. Those are savings passed directly to the consumer.”

Geography creates conditions that make Michigan apples the best in the world, insists Diane Smith, executive director, Michigan Apple Committee, Lansing, MI. The Great Lakes surrounding the state provide ample moisture and create a buffer that can mitigate extreme weather conditions.

Nutrient-rich soil and topography also give apples a leg up, with long winters, gradually arriving springs and sunny summers acting as flavor enhancers.

“In Michigan, growers adapt to consumer demand,” she says. “We are seeing many older, less popular varieties getting pulled out of orchards while the varieties consumers like best — Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, EverCrisp, Ambrosia — are increasing in production. Some growers may also participate in managed variety programs.”

Smith says social media marketing campaigns have proven successful, with steady increases in followers and engagements for the last 10 years. “In addition, we are doing more outreach with consumers thanks to partnerships and event sponsorships that allow us to have face-to-face interactions with our audience, sharing the attributes of Michigan apples.”

Nancy Nyquist, executive director of the Michigan Blueberry Commission, Grand Junction, MI, and of the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, Lansing, MI, says things were going well for both commodities early this spring. The blueberry commission’s main focus is on industry-driven research.

“We have our own grant program and also participate in other grant programs, such as the Specialty Crop Block grant. We just started a relationship with the Michigan Ag Council and also work with Michigan Farm Bureau’s Farm Crate program for school-aged kids.”

ABUNDANT BRANCHES

To support the May to June core growing season, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, a grower-funded state-authorized checkoff, keys on improving the economic position of the state’s asparagus growers by supporting research and creating greater marketing opportunities.

“MAAB accomplishes this by supporting research for production practices and asparagus varieties, as well as implementing advertising and promotion programs, and assembling and disseminating market information,” says Jamie Clover Adams, executive director, Michigan Asparagus, Okemos, MI.

The board offers fresh asparagus retail promotions and point-of-sale materials to retail buyers. On the consumer side, it uses on-trend recipes, influencers, CTV advertising, and an active social media presence to create excitement and get asparagus on consumer shopping lists.

“This year, we are working on tasting demonstrations with retail partners and are also focusing on retail dietitians as a way to help consumers discover the superior freshness and flavor of fresh Michigan asparagus.”

In Michigan, Nyquist notes, the blueberry crop grows mostly in the state’s southwest, with the season starting in early July and running through September for fresh varieties, with local considerations pacing the growing season.

The Michigan apple harvest season occurs mostly in the state’s western half, but includes growing areas elsewhere, including in the southeast. The season generally runs from late summer into the fall, with most varieties ripening from August to October.

Michigan blueberries and tree fruit are widely distributed, but, as with other crops in the state, support near home is significant. “Buying local is important, consumers want to know where their food comes from,” says Nyquist.

Taylor concurs. “Every season, we hear directly from more consumers,” she says. “People want to know where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and even who is growing it. They want to know they’re supporting a local, family operation, and we can answer questions that come to mind.”

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Busch’s Fresh Food Market Prioritizes Local

Starting in June, Busch’s Fresh Food Market, based in Ann Arbor, MI, is renewing its annual commitment to local through the return of the Hyper Local Farm Program. The initiative partners Busch’s with farms located near its stores.

At the recently remodeled store in Novi, MI, Busch’s transformed the produce department by building a 20% footprint expansion, resulting in a brighter, more shoppable space. A new layout improves visibility in the expanded fresh wet vegetable element, while spaced displays create an easier shopping experience, the company says.

Busch’s also broadened the assortment, including an 8-foot section dedicated to in-house freshly cut fruits and vegetables.

Additional improvements include the installation of a 36-foot refrigerated vegetable case, designed to maintain peak product condition. The upgrades also feature the addition of an in-store fresh squeeze juice program, allowing Busch’s to provide freshly squeezed juice daily.