Members of the 2025 Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class viewed the complexity of the supply chain first-hand during a tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) and Holt Logistics on March 18, 2025. "The wholesale market and the port represent critical links in the supply chain," said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director. "For those in our Leadership Program, these are essential operations to experience."
The day began at the Philly wholesale market with a presentation by PWPM's marketing coordinator Christine Hofmann on the market's development and role in the produce business. The group walked the concourse of the 700,000 square-foot facility to meet with various merchants and had the opportunity to hear from next-generation professionals including Joseph Procacci III of Procacci Brothers Sales Corp. and Dan Vena of John Vena Inc. The class also heard about the banana ripening process from Mark Levin at M. Levin & Co.
© Eastern Produce CouncilThe tour included a stop at John Vena, Inc.
During the tour, the new class members were introduced to previous EPC Leadership Class participants including Gabrielle Procacci of Procacci Brothers Sales Corp., Eric Smith of John Vena Inc., and Ryan Miller of M. Levin & Co.
The second stop was a visit to Holt Logistics Corp. at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ, where Sam Ecker, business development, presented a summary of the facilities of the Philadelphia area ports. "We are uniquely positioned in Philadelphia because we can reach more than 50 percent percent of the Canadian and U.S. population within a 48-hour drive," he said.
The class was treated to a sampling of recently unloaded fruit, including interesting grape varieties, from Dayka + Hackett. After lunch, the group received a tour of the Gloucester Marine Terminal to learn about the processes for imported products and inspections.
© Eastern Produce CouncilThe EPC Leadership Class by the ship.
The EPC's program provides a dual-medium learning environment and includes various tours and classroom learning activities throughout the year.
Participants selected for the 2025 program include: Marcus Albinder (Hudson River Fruit Distributors); Susie Alvarez (Dayka + Hackett); Christine Consales (Dole Fresh Fruit); Geoffrey Gero (House Foods); Drew Hennemuth and Nathan Kreiser (Four Seasons Produce); Garrett Josephson (Farm-Wey Produce); Drew Koeppel (Katzman Distribution); Justin Leis (CJ Brothers Inc.); Michael Lovera Jr. and Emily Naples (JOH); Tyler Schneider (Cleveland Kitchen); Taylor Sears (LGS); Aleksander Skarzynski (Wakefern Food Corp.); Casey Spencer (John Vena, Inc.); Paul Williamson (Highline Mushrooms); and Matt Zapczynski (Idaho Potato Commission).
Also participating in the tour were: Theresa Lowden (JOH), current EPC president; Vic Savanello (Katzman Distribution), EPC leadership committee chair and past EPC president; and Al Murray, EPC board member.
For more information:
Susan McAleavey Sarlund
Eastern Produce Council
Tel: +1 (908) 723-0645
easternproducecouncil@gmail.com
www.easternproducecouncil.com