What core values guide your decision-making today, and where did they originate? “Everything I know about this business, I learned watching my father, Alvin. He was tough — he held everyone to a high standard and didn't cut corners, ever. But he was also one of the most generous people I've ever known. If a customer was going through a hard stretch, or a shipper was trying to get their footing, my father would extend credit, give them a chance, bet on them as people. He understood that this industry runs on relationships and trust, and that sometimes you have to invest in someone before they can invest back. That's always stayed with me. Integrity, honesty, doing what's right even when it's costly — those aren't values I came up with. I inherited them. And now I watch my sons carry them forward, and that means everything.”

How has collaborating with growers and partners worldwide influenced your perspective? “Standing in the middle of a vineyard in Peru, or driving through the apple orchards in Yakima and Wenatchee, or watching crews work through harvest in California's Central Valley — the scale of it is just staggering. The amount of planning, labor, and care that goes into growing what we sell is humbling every single time. And then I come back to New York and I see that same fruit on the shelf of a store we supply, and there's something really meaningful about that connection. We're not just moving boxes. We're the link between an incredible amount of hard work happening across the world and the families in our community who bring it home. That responsibility isn't lost on me.”

What keeps you motivated on challenging days, and what makes this work meaningful? “Fresh produce is not a forgiving business — there are no easy days, and vegetables especially keep you on your toes. But what keeps me going is the bigger picture of what we're actually doing. We're a family that has built real relationships with the people who grow our food, and we're bringing that food to communities we care about. There's a lot of pride in that. When you're part of something your family has poured everything into, the hard days don't feel pointless — they feel like part of what it takes to do this the right way.”