About 15 years ago I had a gamer in Connecticut, who I sold his product for many years. I would make 8-10% on my sales. Well after a few years and knowing all the customers I sold his stuff too he decided that he didn’t want to pay the 10%, he saw no value. I can remember the VERY FIRST week I was selling similar cucumbers for $20, and I found out from one of my customers that he charged him 10 for the cukes. So, minus my commission he would have received $18 but on his own

The most important factor in buying and selling produce This week we speak about the most important aspect of buying and selling produce, demand. Some will argue it’s supplies but after 40 years I can tell you markets have nothing to do with supplies it’s all demand driven. Next, I want to speak about making new produce connections, outside your regular circles. I want to invite anyone with an iPhone or iPad to join clubhouse, I am sure they will get to android users in the f

We have seen many changes during the last year in produce due to covid. How can we now translate that impulse sale in the produce isle to the online produce isle? One way would be to set up a virtual isle on your website with specials and picks of the week, there are a couple of more ideas in this week’s video. We also speak about transportation as it effects supplies and demand. I also has 2 links that I also speak about in this week’s video, please check them out. Lastly is

This week we have a couple of links on 2 chains that do produce right. I have never been to either of these chain’s stores, but their reputation precedes them. Check out these two stories. Then of course I have to speak of who is doing it wrong, otherwise I wouldn’t be me. Please go to my FB page to share our food distribution tomorrow in Texas. Let people here know help is on the way. https://www.facebook.com/paul.manfre https://www.andnowuknow.com/whats-store/meijer-announc

Happy Valentine’s day, your relationship with AI sucks Is AI ( Artificial Intelligence) going to work in produce when the building block for it was NI ( No Intelligence) . I am by no means tech savvy; in fact, I tell people I know enough to get me into trouble but not enough to get me out of trouble. I do know the old term when it comes to computing, “garbage in equals garbage out”. What if 30 years ago all the schoolteachers were replaced and the new crop of no experienced t

Happy Sunday I have been in produce before fax machines, before beepers, before car phones and then cell phones, before personal computers, I am a dinosaur. I have come to realize that I am not in the current mainstream of produce, much to my dismay. A few weeks ago, I spoke about loyalty. I stated it was a 2-way street, you have to give it to get it. In this week’s video I will address this again as well as the current state of the produce business. I will also address botto

What a great day organizing a farmer to family Box program with some awesome volunteers. Please check out my FB page link https://www.facebook.com/paul.manfre/videos/10225515714429466/?notif_id=1612021253548538&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif The following was an excerpt from the 10 produce influencers, written about Shay Myers. Consumers are starving for our story and still many of you are still not telling it. The videos are an easy watch and don’t require any p

Happy Sunday This we will continue with changes both good and bad we have experienced over the past year. What can we do to have a continuation of the best and get rid of the worst? We have seen unprecedented growth in home delivery of produce and organics over the past year as people wanted to eat healthy to help them against the virus. Going forward box delivery programs from non-retail competitors can change the produce landscape. My hope that one big player in retail or d

Happy Sunday. We have had unprecedented growth is produce in 2020. There are things we are doing right and a few things we are doing wrong. In with the good and out with the bad, change is good for all. It is time to stop being a lemming and change the produce model for the future. This pandemic will end and the leaders that make the changes today will be the ones standing tall and prospering when the lemmings follow each other to oblivion. Check out this week’s video. https:

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel and why is my tongue purple? Today we have a couple of stories that share the same theme. The first is produce buying and selling. I have been on both sides of this equation for many years and I can remember what Anthony Robbins stated on his tapes over 3 decades ago. “ Find someone who is successful and use that for a template for your success” I am paraphrasing here. In other words, don’t try to reinvent the wheel. In this week’s video I wil

HAPPY NEW YEAR, I hope. Let’s all hope and pray for a better 2021. We will have a at least a few months ahead of troubled waters and I believe by working together and forming some new alliances and partnerships we will get through this. My aim has always been to get good shippers and good receivers, at every level together, this is now more important than ever. Unless there is a drastic change fast I can see unprecedented gluts and gaps in our immediate future, as I pointed

Happy Sunday, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. This week’s video may be a long one because I have a lot to say about the produce business going forward into next year from Grower, to wholesale to retail and finally the consumer. I have a lot in my head, hopefully if all gets on the video. I always bank on the resiliency of the men and woman in produce and we all may be put to the most stringent test going forward. We need each other to get through this now more than eve

Happy Sunday, I am posting the links of 2 germinal market tours which had many views this week and people really seemed to enjoy them. Hopefully I can get on the road again soon and visit more markets. https://youtu.be/_ZBwe0MdNnk https://youtu.be/3r3iLCQzW30 https://youtu.be/2B07niSOD2Q This week’s video This week’s highpoints. I think we are in for a rough ride over the next several months in the produce sphere. My hope that a stimulus package could give us a boost and th

Check out these links from #PMG. These stores make my heart skip a beat and show that there are some people out there that still know how to sell and merchandise produce. Contrary to time magazine’s beliefs I think the front line works and the whole produce supply chain get the Paul Manfre persons of the year. We ran out of many things at the stores during this pandemic but fresh produces was not one of them. Let’s give a shout out to ALL our front line workers. https://www.l

Last week I had many questions about my terminal market and FOB pricing theory, so I will try to go into more detail today. Terminal markets are a leading indicator to the supply and demand equation. Then I would like to share some hard personal experiences that I have warned you about and now have come into my reality. On a better note I will have some very good personal news next week so join me to celebrate. Lastly the video ended abruptly, and I have no idea why. Check o

The bust after the bang that only popped. Thanksgiving is still the biggest holiday when it comes to produce demand, if not it’s definitely in the top two. Back in the day produced men worked around the clock for days to ensure everything you wanted for your feast was readily available. The times have changed but the mission remains the same for the entire produce industry, from farmer to retailer, we are thankful for you. Check out this link to read about the wholesale produ

There is only one link today and it is very important for retailers, consumers as well as other states put a stop to this Florida madness. As I predicted 2 years ago, Florida wants to raise prices to consumers all over the USA and we must stop it. Freight rates keep climbing and avocado prices keep dropping will there be a strike in our future? Check out this week’s video for all your produce questions. https://www.thepacker.com/article/strawberry-bell-pepper-imports-next-tra

Happy Sunday and much more importantly HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Steve Katzman, who has been a true friend to me for over 40 years. I hope all of you have at least one friend like Steve. If you have more than one like I do, you are truly blessed. This week’s video talks about markets, both trucks and produce, demand on both and the upcoming holiday season. There are no links to read so make sure you watch the whole video. #produce #freshfood #supermarket #walmart #usda #kroger #targ

This week I want to give some accolades to Sprouts I hope I am getting their intentions of what they proposed in the following article. Then I would like to dovetail into a great offer for wholesale and retail for the coming season with our mango program. Check out thus weeks video for all the information https://www.producebluebook.com/2020/10/29/sprouts-restructures-produce-buying-ahead-of-new-dcs-in-2021/ An offer you can’t refuse We have now locked up 240 hectares of Atau

Happy Sunday. This week we have 3 links I would like you to check out. The first is the produce group I spoke about last week and I recommend it highly to anyone involved in any aspect of the produce business. The second links is about the suspension agreement again and more propaganda from the Florida Tomato growers. Pay close attention to the last paragraph which is total BS. The last link is to Albertson’s quarterly results, which they knocked it out of the park. I would e