According to the USDA’s March 2014 Agricultural Marketing Service Report, “Why Local Food Matters”, demand for locally-grown produce is on the rise. Today’s consumers are less willing to settle for whatever’s on the shelf. They want: fresher, more nutritious choices; produce that comes from a trustworthy source, and access to unusual and heirloom varieties. Doug Pallman, Summit Harvest’s Vice President and Director of Business Development, explains Family Farmers Direct’s one-stop shopping business model, “Whether a business sells foodservice, retail or wholesale, buyers all face the same dilemma. It’s incredibly time-consuming to identify premium growers, build relationships, oversee food safety compliance and manage logistics. There are simply not enough hours in a day. We’ve designed Family Farmers Direct to streamline that process and remove any roadblocks, giving our East Coast customers access to a wide variety of fresh, delicious produce with just one phone call.”

President of Summit Harvest, Craig Pallman, says, “Over the past few decades, we’ve built strong relationships with some of this country’s most dedicated farming families. As Doug and I are fourth-generation family farmers ourselves, we have a genuine appreciation for their commitment to sustainability, conservation and land management.” To remain economically viable, many of these growers embrace crop rotation and diversification, water management solutions, soil fertility initiatives, and integrated pest/weed management systems. Craig continues, “By partnering with Family Farmers Direct, growers are freed up to focus their time and energy on supplying the very highest quality produce possible.”

In addition to distribution and fulfillment, Summit Harvest offers centralized support and 100% accountability. The company has earned a Food Safety Certification from the USDA for Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices, and all grower-shippers are third-party food safety certified for GAP and GHP. Summit Harvest is also a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Preferred program. For growers looking to expand their market presence and sales organizations exploring private label options, Family Farmers Direct provides a complete suite of marketing services including brand development, retail/bulk packaging, sales programs and merchandising.

Located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Summit Harvest’s main office sits squarely in the middle of Pallman Farms, a working farm originally founded by the duo’s grandfather, Dutch Pallman. In addition to Family Farmers Direct, Summit Harvest provides year-round tomato repacking and professional tomato brokerage services.

For more information about Family Farmers Direct, visit www.familyfarmersdirect.com.