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global diets

Global Diets

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The University of Kent recently published a study indicating a shift in global diets and food consumption. This study explains that countries like South Korea, China, and Taiwan are moving towards a meat and sugar-rich diet, whereas the United States, the UK, and Australia are moving towards a more plant-based diet. Read our blog post below to understand what’s causing these shifts and the effects both of these differences have on their respective populations.

Peddler’s Son provides wholesale produce for a variety of industries including Restaurants, Education, and Healthcare. We believe in supplying businesses with quality and healthy produce to help its people and the community succeed. 

How a Growing Income Contributes to a Larger Consumption of Animal-Based Food

Over the past 50 years data has shown that countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and China have experienced large changes in their food, but why? Due to a lot of growth and development, these countries have a lot more disposable income. This plays a large part in food consumption as countries are beginning to afford a variety of meals made with more expensive ingredients. While many can argue that this is an economic success, this overall change in diet is also leading to an increase in obesity. 

The Decline of Animal-Based Food in the West

While animal-based diets are rising in popularity in the East, we are seeing the exact opposite in the West, for the same exact reason, but how? According to The University of Kent, high-income English-speaking countries such as The United States, The United Kingdom, and Australia are focusing more on plant-based diets. This shift can be attributed to increased awareness of how food plays a role in our overall health. Additionally, due to the variety of available food, they are able to be more selective about their consumption and pick and choose what they eat. While this trend is strongest in the countries listed above, many other countries are experiencing this global diet shift as well. 

So What Does This Global Diet Shift Mean?

While the food chain varies based on geography and overall country development, these findings showcase how important diet is to both public health and the environment. Professor Majid Ezzati from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London explains that “Advances in science and technology, together with growing incomes, have allowed many nations to have access to a diversity of foods.” “We must harness these advances and set in place policies that provide healthier foods for people everywhere, especially those who can currently least afford them.” Let us know what you think and how you feel about this topic in the comments below.

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Farmers’ Market or Grocery Store: Where Should You Get Your Food?

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Fresh produce is always something to get excited about. The variety of delicious flavors and attention to quality can transform a simple dish into an extraordinary dinner milestone.  Many people purchase their food from the grocery store, but there are many farmers’ market die-hards who swear by the quality of their food. This leads to the question, where should you be getting your food?

For over 30 years, Peddler’s Son has been Arizona’s source for incredible ingredients and on-time delivery. We partner with a wide range of industry professionals, including those in healthcare, education, catering, hospitality, and restaurants. Additionally, we’ve helped supply grocery stores with fresh produce to keep their store stocked on your favorite fruits and vegetables. Read our blog post below and learn where you should be doing your shopping – the farmers’ market or grocery store?

What Exactly Can You Find at a Farmers’ Market?

The smells, the sights, the feeling; there’s nothing quite like walking through a farmers’ market. It’s a hub for consumers to purchase goods directly from farmers and other small businesses. These markets exist in many countries around the world and promote a strong local economy by supporting farmers in the area. Typically, you’ll find a wide variety of products. Like:

  • Fresh produce
  • Live animals
  • Plants
  • Prepared foods
  • Honey

And much more

Additionally, these markets allow producers and consumers to get to know each other. Many consumers are trying to be more eco-conscious, these markets allow them to learn how farmers are growing/raising their products. Resulting in wise purchasing decisions and more confidence in their purchase.

Benefits of Shopping at the Farmers’ Market

Farm Fresh

The fruits and veggies you find at the grocery store are often several days old before they reach the produce department. Additionally, before it even hits the shelves it’s stored in refrigerated coolers and trucks, possibly thousands of miles away. When you shop at the farmers’ market you can enjoy truly fresh food. In most cases, the owner of the stand picked his or her food that morning or the day before and is likely only a few miles away from the market. Making it significantly more fresh than what you may find at the grocery store.  

Organic and Non-GMO

Many farmers who participate in farmers’ markets grow organic food. Most will label it as such, so you can rest easy knowing you’re buying products free of pesticides. They will also be more likely to avoid non-genetically modified seeds, resulting in a more natural product. Not only does this benefit you, but growing organic foods is better for the soil and environment!

Farmers’ Markets Offer More Nutritious products

When you first spot the produce at your local farmers’ market you’ll be immediately hit with a beautiful array of colors. Not only is this pleasing to the eye, but our bodies! Vivid colors in fruits and veggies are a reflection of just how nutritious they are. This is a result of how the local farmer cultivates their produce, maintaining an incredible quality of product.

Benefits of Shopping at a Grocery Store

Convenience

Probably the biggest advantage grocery stores have over farmers’ markets is that they’re open seven days a week for most of the day. Being able to shop when and where you want is liberating and frees you from scheduling out your time around the farmers’ market. When you need something, you don’t have to wait until next week to pick it up at the market. You can simply stop in a store whenever you want. 

Variety

While the farmers’ market can boast farm-fresh foods, it can’t hold a candle to the variety offered in a grocery store. While yes it’s true that depending on where you live, products travel a great distance for your eating pleasure, we can’t cultivate certain items during different times of the year; some not at all. If we restricted ourselves to strictly local items, then our produce departments would likely be reduced to a mere shelf.

One-Stop Shopping Experience

Another big draw for consumers is that they can buy almost all of their food items at the grocery store. There are going to be a few items you likely can’t get at the farmers’ market, but you can easily purchase them at the supermarket. This is especially convenient for people who hate making trips to multiple places to get what they need.

Farmers’ Market or Grocery Store: Where Should You Purchase Your Produce?

Shop where you feel comfortable. Both provide excellent products for the public and help you create extraordinary dishes. It entirely depends on what you are looking for in your produce. Are you trying to be more eco-conscious and stay organic? Shop at the farmers’ market. Looking for more variety and convenience? The grocery store is the place to be.

Peddler’s Son: Arizona’s Source for Quality Wholesale Produce Since 1988, Peddler’s Son has been providing exceptional customer service with transparency and integrity throughout the state of Arizona. From our showroom and shipping docs to our on-time delivery; We strive for quality on every level. Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of quality products.

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fruits and veggies

What to Expect This July in Your Produce Department

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Summer is hot and so is your produce department with delicious favorites in ready supply. However, there are a few items you should be aware of when ordering products for your store. 

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience providing grocery retailers, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and schools with wholesale produce. With 54,000 square feet of warehouse space and over 30 delivery trucks feeding all of Arizona, we’re the go-to source for produce distribution. Read our article below to learn what you can expect this month in your produce department.

Asparagus

While quality is fair, West coast asparagus is in short supply. Prices are capped out in the west where markets have hit $40 FOB. However, East coast supplies are in fairly good supply with a similar level of quality. Be on the lookout for East coast asparagus in your produce department. 

Raspberries

As people prepared for the 4th of July holiday, raspberries saw some pressure on its pricing and supplies. This is due to the high demand for the item as stores ramped up their ad activity. We’re hoping by mid-July raspberries will see some relief.

Brussels Sprouts 

Brussels Sprouts supply and quality continue to be a risk for produce departments. While the item continues to have solid demand, it faces some quality and supply issues. Fortunately, by the end of July, we anticipate they will improve.

Honeydew

Honeydew is in high demand due to customers expecting an array of melon options in their produce department. However, very few honeydews have been grown this season in the desert and even less have been crossing through Nogales. This has resulted in a lower supply and strong pricing is expected to continue over the next few weeks.   

Mushrooms

The mushroom industry is facing a labor shortage, as well as cost inflation increasing raw materials. The price increases in freights nationally have also impacted the cost to mushroom producers. Pricing for these products may increase as a result.

Bell Peppers

While pricing for red and yellow bell peppers is increasing, green varieties are trending down. There is a lot of production coming out of Florida, Georgia, the Carolina’s, California, and Mexico. With production in New Jersey soon starting up, there will be a lot of pressure on pricing. 

Squash

Prices for Green and Yellow Squash are trending significantly higher this week. While production is strong in a number of states, quality is ranging from poor to fair. Currently, demand is exceeding the squash supply. 

Stock Your Produce Department with Peddler’s Son Wholesale Produce

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

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industry insights

3rd Quarter 2021 Industry Insights

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At Peddler’s Son, we have created a quarterly series called the Next 90 Now where Peddler’s Son owners, Joe and Ted Palmisano talk about industry insights, what to expect based on market trends, and updates for the upcoming quarter.

This quarter, Joe and Ted talk about price increases to serve the pent-up demand, supply and demand balance based on farming efforts from last quarter, and more! Tune in to learn why Joe states that “business and convention travel should come back impressively.”

[Next 90 Now July 2021 Video]

Peddler’s Son Is Your Go-To For Industry Insights and Forecasting

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

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Villa Dolce Gelato

Customer Spotlight: Villa Dolce Gelato

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Here at Peddler’s Son, we have the pleasure of partnering with many types of businesses around Arizona. Everyone from local restaurants, grocery stores, medical centers, and everything in between. We continue to develop and strengthen relationships with our customers. One of those incredible relationships is with Villa Dolce Gelato, one of the country’s finest wholesale gelato manufacturers. Read our article below and learn more about our partnership with this delicious gelato company. 

Who Are Villa Dolce Gelato?


Villa Dolce opened its doors in 2001 servicing top-tier restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Renowned chefs and personalities quickly embraced their extraordinary products and use their gelato in their restaurants. In 2013, the company expanded into Phoenix, Arizona with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. 

The Marcaccini brothers started Villa Dolce Gelato to bring Italy’s finest gelato to the United States. Growing up in Rome, they spent many summers on the Italian coast, eating gelato with family and friends. Their gelato is a love letter to those warm, fun summers and honors that tradition of joy and connection with natural ingredients and freshness. 

The Villa Dolce Mission

To provide the best, they have to be the best. Villa Dolce Gelato’s mission is to make the best quality product in the industry. Villa Dolce is driven to elevate dessert and convey a sensory experience through clean, natural, artisan recipes. They take pride in the details, from balancing simple and complex flavors to developing textures, contrasts, and a velvety smooth finish.  

To achieve this, the Marcaccini brothers and their ingredient partners implement the best business practices to ensure their products benefit future generations. These practices include:

  • USDA organic certification
  • High standards for animal care and environment stewardship
  • Utilizing new technology to improve product life
  • Reduces waste
  • Fosters innovation

Peddler’s Son’s Partnership with Villa Dolce Gelato

Villa Dolce has chosen us as their produce supplier because of our tenacity for quality, integrity, and transparency. Additionally, we make sure they receive the products they need to ensure their operations continue to their highest potential. We focus on delivering fresh ingredients so they can focus on creating the delicious products they’re known for.

Peddler’s Son is Arizona’s Choice for Produce Delivery

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience and knowledge in foodservice delivery. We give clients like Villa Dolce Gelato and many others the confidence that they are receiving the best products and service around. We’re proud of the partnerships and relationships we’ve built over the years and look forward to continuing to assist in their success. Contact us today to learn what a culinary partnership can mean for you.

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Cherry

It’s Cherry Season! Why and How to Add Them Into Your Diet

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Cherries are one of the most beloved fruits on the planet for their delicious, juicy flavor. We look forward to stone fruit season all year, and the cherry is one of the many reasons. But, a lot of people underestimate that they’re an excellent source of nutrition. So as you relax and enjoy the warmer weather, why not buy a bag from your local grocery store and take a bite into a summer favorite.

When they’re available, Peddler’s Son carries delicious cherries that restaurants, caterers, healthcare facilities, and schools can incorporate into their menus. We bring in quality produce from around the world to ensure your business is stocked with the best food in Arizona. 

The Nutritional Benefits of the Cherry Fruit

While cherries may be small, they are packed with flavors and nutrients. All varieties of cherries are highly nutritious. According to Healthline, one cup of sweet, raw, pitted cherries contains:

  • Calories: 97
  • Protein: 2 grams
  • Carbs: 25 grams
  • Fiber: 3 grams
  • Vitamin C: 18% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Potassium: 10% of the DV
  • Copper: 5% of the DV
  • Manganese: 5% of the DV

Additionally, the cherry is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Molecules conducted a study and found that they reduced inflammation in 11 out of 16 studies and oxidative stress in 8 out of 10 studies. It’s also been shown that increasing your intake of fruits is beneficial to one’s heart.

The cherry fruit is also an incredible resource for people seeking help in improving sleep quality. This may be attributed to the fruit’s high concentration of plant compounds. Not to mention cherries contain melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. A study was conducted that showed that subjects who drank cherry juice for 7 days experienced a significant increase in melatonin levels, resulting in better sleep quality.

Cherries Are Easy to Add to Your Diet

The cherry fruit is an incredibly versatile, delicious fruit that can be easily added to your diet. Both tart and sweet varieties pair well with many different foods. Plus, there are an array of products, like dried cherries, cherry powder, and juice to freshen up your recipes. The possibilities are endless, and you won’t regret adding these delicious flavors into your diet.

We Promise with a Cherry On Top, These Recipes Are Worth It

Looking for a dish that blends the flavors of sweet and spicy? Why not try this incredible Cherry Chutney recipe? All you need is 3 cups of pitted cherries, some bell peppers, ginger, cardamom, balsamic vinegar, and other basic ingredients. This recipe is perfect on grilled chicken or as a side to your favorite summer dish. 

What about the perfect summer salad? When you add cherries into this amazingly fresh recipe, you’ll never look at leafy salads the same again. All you need is a watermelon, 2 cups of cherries, blueberries, an English cucumber, feta cheese, mint leaves, and other easily obtainable ingredients. 

In the mood for dessert? Why not go with an American classic. The cherry pie is a summer staple that’s always a hit at dinner parties or backyard barbeques. Taste of Home has a delicious recipe that is bound to please your guests or your party of one.

These are just a few recipes that use cherries to enhance their flavors. It’s such a versatile fruit, we bet you can find countless other ways to incorporate it into your favorite dishes. 

Peddler’s Son is the Go-To Source for Quality Produce Distribution

At Peddler’s Son, we work with a variety of vendors to ensure they receive products that their customers want. Whether you are a local restaurant, healthcare food service provider, grocery store, or school, our team is committed to your food needs. Contact us today to learn what products and services we can provide you.

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Produce

What to Expect in Your Produce Department This June

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With a majority of crops in good supply and quality, we anticipate a delicious start to the summer. However, there are a few items you should be aware of when ordering for your produce department. 

Peddler’s Son has over 30 years of experience providing grocery retailers, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and schools with wholesale produce. With 54,000 square feet of warehouse space and over 30 delivery trucks feeding all of Arizona, we’re the go-to source for produce distribution. Read our article below to learn what you can expect this month in your produce department.

Raspberries and Blackberries are Trending Down

The price for blackberries and raspberries are trending down right now due to low consumer demands. Supplies also remain tight due to the downswing of production in Mexico. Additionally, growers are continuing to report quality challenges that are impacting these items. We recommend that you carefully check the quality of these products before you sell these items.

Brussels Sprouts Supplies are Light

Brussels Sprouts supplies are very light right now, but with good availability on smaller size sprouts. The demand for these items remains average, but consumers must be cautious of the quality. 

Grapes Are In Bad Supply and Quality

The Import Grape season is coming to a close.  Mexico is experiencing heavy rains which are affecting these products. It’s causing issues on arrival and grape quality. Additionally, the excess rain and high temperatures are significantly impacting the shelf life of these products.

Peddler’s Son Excellence in Wholesale Produce 

Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

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Cross-docking

How Does Cross-Docking Get Me My Food On Time?

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When it comes to the transportation of fresh produce items, keeping a streamlined supply chain is top of mind. Getting food delivered from farms to customers in the least amount of time is essential to keep items fresh and prolong their shelf life. Cross-docking provides many benefits to companies and consumers when it comes to speed and productivity, but what exactly is this method and how does it help get you your food on time?

Below we explain how cross-docking works and why it is essential for fresh produce distribution.

What is Cross-Docking?

In simple terms, cross-docking is an efficient logistic procedure where inbound items from suppliers are received at a dedicated warehouse and immediately transferred to an outbound dock. 

The products can be transported through trucks or trailers and placed on the receiving side of the terminal dock. Once unloaded, they can be transferred to the outbound dock on the other side of the terminal by use of forklifts, conveyor belts, pallet trucks or other means.

After being loaded on the outbound dock, the products can then be transported to their end destination.

Benefits of Cross-Docking

There are many benefits of using the cross-docking method when it comes to fresh produce distribution. Cross-docking greatly reduces the amount of handling products receive during transportation, which minimizes the risk of misplacing, mislabeling, or misnumbering products. 

Additionally, cross-docking reduces the amount of time items are placed in storage making the handling of inventory easier and more efficient. 

Both of these benefits of reducing handling and storage time directly translate into more financial savings too. Having less manpower to monitor everything reduces labor and storage costs. 

Finally, cross-docking greatly reduces shipping times. By making storage time non-existent, minimizing handling, and transferring products immediately after receiving them means customers will get their produce at the right time.

Peddler’s Son Excellence in Wholesale Produce

 Peddler’s Son has provided Arizona businesses with quality wholesale produce for over 30 years. We are committed to customer service, quality, and honest pricing to ensure our customers get the best products and provisions possible. As a family-owned wholesale produce distributor, we provide our services to everyone from the produce department to the hospital cafeteria. No matter your industry, Peddler’s Son is here for you! Contact us today and learn what a partnership with us can mean for your business.

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Herbs and Spices

7 Common Herbs and Spices With Incredible Health Benefits

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For centuries, herbs and spices have played an incredible role in the world’s history. Ancient Egyptians used them to preserve their deceased leaders through mummification. They were a hot commodity that several civilizations traded for goods, services, and gold. In the 1600s, the East India Trading Company became one of the most powerful trading companies in history by distributing and trading spices with countries in Europe and Asia.

Today, herbs and spices may not be quite as appreciated as they once were, but they still have an incredible influence on our lives. They hold extraordinary health benefits that help our bodies fight inflammation and other conditions, with some even improving brain function. As one of the leading produce distributors in Arizona, we’ve listed a few herbs and spices’ health benefits that you should know about. 

Cardamom Soothes Upset Stomachs

Cardamom is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the Zingiberaceae family. It has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic fragrance that is commonly used in Indian cuisine. Additionally, it is often used in baking in Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland. 

The cooling effects of cardamom can help relieve acidity and help in treating gastrointestinal issues like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Not to mention it may have positive effects on people’s bad breath, depression, and sexual dysfunction. 

Cinnamon May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Cinnamon is more than just a coffee enhancer or delicious sweet treat. It’s an aromatic spice that is widely used in baking, beverages, and snack foods. It’s also an incredible spice that can help fight inflammation and lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Probably the most apparent is its effects on our blood sugar levels. It’s capable of slowing down the breakdown of carbs in our digestive tract, and for diabetics, may improve insulin sensitivity. 

Turmeric Can Reduce Inflammation

Next time you devour a plate of curry, you might appreciate its spices’ anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine, contains curcumin which is effective against inflammation. Almost every chronic disease involves some low-level inflammation, but incorporating turmeric more into your diet may significantly reduce its effect on your body. 

Holy Basil May Help Fight Infections and Enrich Your Immunity

This isn’t your normal basil, you won’t find it in Nonna’s marinara sauce or a hot bowl of pho. This leafy plant is native to Southeast Asia and has a rich history in Indian medicine. It’s been able to treat several ailments, such as eye diseases, ringworms, and upset stomachs.

Studies have shown that holy basil can inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds while boosting certain immune cells in our blood. Additionally, the herb is linked to reducing blood sugar levels before and after meals, and may even treat anxiety. 

Boost Your Heart Health with Cocoa

While cocoa is one of the most delicious treats on the planet, it also has tremendous health benefits. The cocoa bean contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that promote heart health. Flavonoids have been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure to help keep the heart’s coronary arteries in top health. 

Rosemary Prevents Allergies and Congestion

One of the active ingredients found in rosemary is rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to suppress allergic reactions and nasal congestion. In 2004 a 21-day study was conducted which found 50 and 200 mg doses of rosmarinic acid were able to suppress the subjects’ allergy symptoms.  Additionally, they found the number of immune cells in nasal mucus decreased, reducing their overall congestion.

Spice Up Your Health with Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a type of chili pepper that is used to spice up a variety of dishes. But, it contains capsaicin, an ingredient that has been shown to reduce one’s appetite and increase fat burning. However, it’s important to note that people who are used to eating spicier food are more tolerant of the effects cayenne pepper provides.

Spice Up Your Menu and Health with Our Herbs and Spices

Peddler’s Son is one of the premier whole produce distributors in Arizona. We strive to deliver quality products to a range of industries, like those in healthcare, education, and catering. You may not know that we have our own line of herbs and spices to help make your food burst with flavor. Our products are minimally processed to maintain longer shelf life and quality flavor. Contact us today to learn more about our herbs and spices and produce wholesale delivery.

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