“Calling all readers.” If I had to put a produce crew together today, this just might be my rallying call. Not in the most literary sense, mind you. I'd prefer people who were hungry to hustle and bank enough hours for a fatter paycheck.
Moreso, I'd like to attract people who were willing to learn the business. In fact, many of my produce manager buddies over the years have mentioned that they'd rather take on a rookie with a great attitude over someone who thinks they know it all or are resistant to change, criticism or coaching.
I liked it as a supervisor when I chanced upon a manager or even a clerk hunched over a desk reading something.
After all, we provided an ample volume of things for the stores to review: marketing bulletins, daily product information sheets. Heck, we even had produce buying guide booklets provided by Blue Goose. Anyone remember these? The booklets were published by American Fruit Growers Inc. out of Los Angeles. It was a wealth of information. Every store had a copy tucked away inside their little gray desk in the produce backroom.
Providing information and getting people to read these kinds of resources are, of course, two different things. Even better was when I happened upon someone examining the sides of fresh produce cartons.
“What are you looking at?” I'd venture.
“Uh, nothing,” the clerk would stammer, thinking he might be in trouble for pausing, instead of muscling it onto his cart to stock.
“Have any idea what all those stenciled things mean?” I spoke. Realizing it was a teaching moment on how to read a carton, I'd briefly explain basics such as produce labels — about how all the pears in those stacks might have come from Oregon or Washington at the time.
I'd point out the different varieties and how we only carried only a base amount, compared to what was available. I'd explain grades, the pack date, the count per carton and how shippers may have provided a tray pack within or fruit that was individually tissue wrapped.
“That's all done to minimize bruising, get it to the stores in decent shape. So, it's important to never drop or dump fresh produce,” I'd say. “Your store's shrink is good, but careful handling is key to keeping it that way.”
When I was a young part-time clerk myself, I took pride in hustling to get the produce department in shape during my after-school shifts. Then I'd take a late lunch a couple of hours before the store closed and finished up any homework I had brought along. When time allowed, I perused through the Blue Goose buying guide myself. I was really starting to enjoy the whole fresh produce gig after all.
On one late night shift, I was busy stocking, shuttling out one cart after another, when our produce supervisor, Mike Aiton, paid an unannounced visit to my store. I spoke nervously with him for a bit. I think he was mildly pleased I had the department in decent shape.
“So, is it true that when apples cross pollinate, the resulting variety is called a sport?” I asked, trying to make conversation.
“Come with me,” Mike said, smiling. We walked to where our bestselling apple was displayed: the red delicious. “This is probably the most popular apple, and yes, it's a sport.”
Talk about a learning moment for this scrawny high school kid. I learned how (at least as the legend goes) that Jesse Hiatt, a Quaker farmer in Peru, Iowa, in 1870 tried to cut down a wayward sprout that kept coming back. The farmer finally said something to the effect of, “Well, if thee must live, then thee shall live.” The red delicious. (By the way, say what you will about this remarkable apple variety, it does live up to its name.)
And that's just one story, I thought. With so many regular, seasonal changes. And here I am surrounded by all this produce. And the education began.
Most people don't care to delve too deeply into product information. Just getting them to learn the basics is the best we can hope for as we strive to promote fresh produce. However, it's a pleasure to occasionally come across a seasoned expert, or on the other end of the spectrum, someone willing to learn and appreciate the nuances of the industry, as it makes our efforts all that much more worthwhile.
Produce nerds of the world, unite!
Armand Lobato's more than 50 years of experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions. He is retired from the Idaho Potato Commission and has written a weekly retail column for nearly two decades.