What We Do
Produce Distributors Association is a national trade association focused exclusively on the unique needs of produce wholesale receivers. Its members are family-owned, multi-generational businesses with combined annual sales over $4 billion.
For almost three decades, we have established a tradition of helping receivers and making sure their voices are heard in Washington before Congress and the regulatory agencies. No other trade association can speak solely on behalf of wholesale receivers in times of crisis and need.
Produce Distributors Association’s primary goal is to protect your business from damaging and harmful laws and regulations. We keep our members informed about new government laws, rules and regulations, and we provide industry news and information that impacts their businesses.
Produce Distributors Association is committed to helping its members understand and comply with the Federal government’s revised food safety law – the Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. The association provides valuable advice on how wholesalers can comply with this major piece of regulatory legislation that affects multiple aspects of every business in the food industry.
WE WORK FOR YOU
Produce Distributors Association is currently working in a number of areas on behalf of produce wholesalers and receivers:
- USDA Good Delivery Standards for produce;
• Initiatives to promote local produce;
• Creating an efficient, simple and workable system for traceability;
• Helping members purchase supplies and equipment more affordably.
Membership
Key Achievements
CANTALOUPE:
USDA proposed to revise the application of tolerances section. Produce Distributors Association was the only organization to file comments and the Agency incorporated our suggestions into the new standard on 3/8/08.
DEWBERRIES/BLACKBERRIES:
When USDA proposed revising color requirements to allow for a lesser amount of color and/or varying shades of color, Produce Distributors Association objected explaining that a berry whose entire surface is not blue or black is not fully ripened and will not ripen after it is picked. Produce Distributors Association said allowing berries with less than the “whole surface” fully colored would be to allow unripe berries into the U.S. No. 1 grade. USDA dropped its proposal.
GREENHOUSE TOMATOES:
USDA proposed revising standards to allow that percentages of defects and size classifications be determined by count rather than weight. They proposed to add moldy stems as a damage defect and a damage scoring guide for skin checks. Produce Distributors Association supported the proposal and it was approved by USDA.
KALE:
USDA proposed to revise the U.S. Grade Standards for Kale to allow percentages to be determined by count rather than weight and revise the application of tolerances for packages of fewer than 15 specimens. At Produce Distributors Association’s request, the agency allowed standards to be used for kale leaves and bunches of leaves in addition to plants. The proposed changes were adopted.
LEAF LETTUCE:
USDA proposed a new voluntary U.S. standard for Grades of Field Grown Leaf Lettuce, providing a common language for trade and measuring value. Produce Distributors Association favored the standards, but said tolerances should be identical to those for Greenhouse Grown Leaf Lettuce and that Russet Spotting should be addressed in the tolerances section. USDA disagreed that standards should be the same for Greenhouse Grown and Field Grown, but did add Russet Spotting as a defect.
LIMES:
With Produce Distributors Association’s support, USDA revised the Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes to allow juice content to be determined by weight, rather than volume. Produce Distributors Association advised USDA that its proposal to add the terms “Turning”, or “Mixed Color” to the grade would be confusing, and the agency made those designations optional.
MANGOS:
USDA proposed new U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. Produce Distributors Association generally supported the initiative, but said they should allow for continued use of certain package sizes and that tolerances for decay should be lowered. USDA adopted the grade standards, but did not lower the decay tolerance. They removed the size requirements section altogether.
WATERMELONS:
USDA proposed to define "seedless watermelons" as those with 16 or fewer mature seeds on the face when cut into four equal sections. They also proposed to allow watermelons to vary by only three pounds above or below the stated average weight. Produce Distributors Association supported creation of the standard, but said it was too lenient and that the definition should be zero mature seeds for small (10 lbs. or less) watermelons and four or less seeds for those over 10 lbs. USDA implemented a standard providing for 10 instead of 16 mature seeds., and adopted the 3-pound variance, supported by Produce Distributors Association.
POTATOES:
USDA proposed to develop en route or at destination tolerances for the U.S. No. 1 and No.2 grades, revise current tolerances in all grades, delete the "Unclassified" section, and define damage and serious damage for many defects, such as cuts, clipped ends, etc. It also proposed to tighten up the scoring guidelines by adding portions of the current Inspection Instructions into the scoring guidelines for defects such as air cracks, bruises, etc. Produce Distributors Association commented that the en route and destination tolerances impacted receivers negatively and that the overall changes will dilute the grade standard and allow lesser quality product into the marketplace. Our arguments were completely ignored and the proposal was adopted on 4/21/08.
SNAP BEANS:
When USDA proposed to modify the standard for Snap Beans to allow tolerance percentages to be determined by count and not weight, Produce Distributors Association objected and said tolerance percentages should continue to be determined by weight. USDA withdrew the proposal.
SWEET CHERRIES:
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service proposed to incorporate standard row sizes into the U.S. Standards for Grades for Sweet Cherries. Produce Distributors Association largely opposed this change, offering specific suggestions for necessary improvement of the proposal. USDA finally withdrew the proposal.
SWEET POTATOES:
USDA proposed to add a new grade, U.S. No. 1 Petite, to the grade standards for sweet potatoes. All standards for quality and condition that apply to U.S. No. 1 would apply to the new grade, except for size. With Produce Distributors Association’s support, the changes were adopted.
PARSLEY:
With Produce Distributors Association’s strong support, USDA changed the standards for Parsley to allow percentages to be determined by count rather than weight. The agency also eliminated the unclassified category.
Board of Directors
Officers
Matthew D’Arrigo,
Chairman
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of New York
John Vena,
1st Vice-Chairman
John Vena, Inc.
Alan Siger,
President
Produce Distributors Association
Board Members
The Class Produce Group
Community-Suffolk, Inc.
Atlantic Fresh Trading
Strube Celery & Vegetable Co.
Tony Vitrano Company
Procacci Bros. Sales Corp.
Golf
The Produce Distributors Association hosts the annual Pete Class Memorial Golf Tournament, which helps bring members and sponsors together for golf, business networking, and fostering produce-industry goodwill.
The tournament’s success is due in large part to the support of our sponsors, who are recognized in many ways throughout the tournament, and in Produce Distributors Association publications and on its website.
This is really more than a golf tournament; it’s a major source of funding for the association’s activities and a nice way to support the wonderful work that local charities do in providing for the most needy in our communities.
To learn more about our organization, for further information on membership, or to learn how to become a sponsor, contact Alan Siger below.
2024 Tournament
On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, produce industry friends will gather for the 25th annual Pete Class Golf Tournament on the beautiful and challenging Ballyowen links course. In addition to the golf round, attendees will enjoy a relaxing lunch and, later, a delightful awards dinner and raffle.
Thank You to Our 2023 Sponsors
Produce Distributors Association Welcomes Hearing From You
5000 Fifth Ave. Ste. 207 Pittsburgh, PA 15232-2150
To reach Alan Siger (Produce Distributors Association President) via email, please use our form below.
The Produce Distributors Association is a national trade association focused exclusively on the unique needs of produce wholesale receivers.
Address:
5000 Fifth Ave. Ste. 207 Pittsburgh, PA 15232-2150