The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, home to 18 fruit and vegetable distributors, opened in 2011 but traces its roots back to colonial times when some of its tenants got their start at the city’s Dock Street marketplace, said Christine Hofmann, marketing coordinator.

The business relocated to the Food Distribution Center in the late 1950s before moving to its current location on Essington Avenue.

“In the 12 years that we’ve been here, we have found that this facility has been a game-changer in produce,” Hofmann said.

The market is a fully enclosed, refrigerated facility that allows for an unbroken cold chain.

“Over the years, we’ve strived to improve our operations in every way and have lessened our impact to the landfill,” she said. “Our goal is to be a zero-waste facility.”

The market partnered in 2021 with a nonprofit called Sharing Excess, which has a dedicated team that sorts through produce that is unsellable for any reason and redirects it to area food banks, churches and hunger relief organizations, Hofmann said.

“In two years, they’ve rescued over 15 million pounds of produce,” she said.

The market, which is open to the public, is a popular place for produce distributors to set up shop. As of early December, there were only three units available for lease.

Most merchants carry a full line of fruits and vegetables, but more and more specialty items are showing up, Hofmann said. Some merchants repack and ripen produce.

Customers include supermarkets, corner stores, caterers, restaurants and neighborhood co-ops.

The market generally serves customers within a 500-mile radius, but some merchants service from Florida to Canada and as far west as Ohio, said Hofmann, who added that business on the market has been “steady.”

“We anticipate a solid 2024 as people appreciate the health aspects of consuming fruit and vegetables.”