PCA Visits Peddler’s Son Produce

Peddler’s Son Produce started in the back of Ted Palmisano’s pick-up truck in the middle of August in 1988. Ted picked up product every morning and drove around Arizona and metro-Phoenix, going door-to-door until the product was sold. The next morning, he would get up and do it all over again. Today, Ted’s pick-up truck produce company is now operating out of a 17,000 square foot warehouse in Downtown Phoenix, with 18 trucks, 58 employees, and over 300 food-related clients ranging from grocery stores to restaurants.

 

from l to r: Ted Palmisano, Martin Shultz, Joe Palmisano, and Jill Howard Allen

Last week, PCA Chairman, Marty Shultz visited Peddler’s Son’s warehouse and its charismatic leaders Ted and Joe Palmisano (Ted’s brother that heads up the sales and finance side of the business) to learn more about the operation first-hand. Marty toured the large storage and staging area to the tomato re-packaging and specialty produce coolers (some of the specialty items, Marty admits, he had never seen nor heard of before), discovering the intricacies and challenges of running a small-business in Phoenix today.

Ted presents some specialty produce.

 

 

“What are some of the challenges?” Mr. Shultz asks the two brothers during the tour. Joe was quick to reply, “Credit.” With the downward economy, payments from clients are trickling in much later and restaurants are closing their doors because they can’t get the credit needed to ride out the storm. Other factors like increasing gas prices also raise costs necessary to the operation. 

 

Despite these circumstances, Peddler’s Son Produce has invested in itself to address the current trends in its industry. They have a certified HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) manager on-site to insure the system protects the food in all aspects of the process from receiving and storage to shipping and recall. Also, all of Peddler’s Son’s employees have their food handler’s license, which is not a requirement, but demonstrates the company’s seriousness about food-safety. In March 2011, Peddler’s Son invited the Department of Agriculture to audit the facility and received a 98.9% rating (415 of a possible 420 points), a testament to the success of the initiatives. Congratulations Peddler’s Son Produce for your success in Arizona and thanks for your membership to Phoenix Community Alliance! 

 

Are you a small-business in the Downtown and Central City wanting to be the ‘first to know’ about the issues affecting your business? Contact Phoenix Community Alliance to learn more about our membership.

 

Flags Across America Project

Steele Indian School Park Needs New Flags for its Flag Plaza – You Can Help!

In 2000, the National Flag Foundation approached the City of Phoenix with a proposal.  They wanted to install a 30 x 60 foot flag at Steele Indian School Park.  The fundraising was done by the National Flag Foundation Arizona representative of Arizona. 

A single, anonymous donor gave $25,000 to purchase a 120 foot pole, night lighting and a 30 x 60 foot American Flag.  Hunt Construction Company donated labor and supplies to build the Flag Plaza.  Architect Christy Ten-Eyck designed the plaza to fit in with the park’s overall design theme.  In 2003, the flag and pole were placed at Steele Indian School Park. 

When the representative of National Flag Foundation Arizona Chapter retired, the replacement of the flag became the responsibility of the City of Phoenix Parks Department. At least three to six flags are needed per year for rotating/cleaning.  A large, 30 x 60 foot flag is used for all patriotic holidays, but a smaller, sturdier, monsoon-type, fabric flag measuring 20 x 38 feet is flown on all other days. 

Currently, Steele Indian School Park has one 20×38 foot flag that they are flying at this time, however due to the City of Phoenix budget constraints there are no funds to continually purchase flags.

 A new 20 x 38 foot flag (monsoon fabric) is approximately $600 and a new 30 x 60 foot flag is approximately $1,400.   

The Phoenix Community Alliance has agreed to help fund raise to provide new flags for the Park.  Donors will be acknowledged at the Phoenix Fabulous 4^th of July event at Steele Indian School Park.  Please make checks payable to the Phoenix Community Alliance, a non-profit, 501 (c)3 corporation.  Your contribution is tax deductible.  Mail to 234 North Central Avenue, Suite M-1100, Floor 1A, Phoenix, AZ 85004.