Vendor Spotlight: Seashore Fruit & Produce Company
Delivering Custom Food Solutions and Exceptional Customer Service
Getting fresh, nutritious food to Fulfill’s 300 pantry partners across Monmouth and Ocean counties is a big task, one that takes a strong network of trusted partners who share a commitment to care. For neighbors facing food insecurity, access to fruit, vegetables, and dairy products isn’t just important, it’s life-changing.
That’s why Fulfill is grateful to partner with dedicated vendors like Seashore Fruit & Produce Company, who help bring the vibrant colors, crisp textures, and essential nourishment of fresh food to local pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens every day.
The Seashore team provides eyes-open, hands-on, purposeful-listening customer service. Together, Seashore and Fulfill address food insecurity by:
- Listening to what clients need and expanding food choices to match their preferences
- Sharing fresh, high-quality produce that they feel good about eating
- Learning what’s working well in other areas and bringing the best ideas to the community
- Planning ahead to make sure needs are met in advance
- Being thoughtful about how funds are spent, so more resources go directly to feeding people
- Reducing waste so that every piece of good food reaches someone who needs it
The need to partner with reliable produce vendors like Seashore is evident by the need Fulfill sees.
“Last year, fresh produce made up over 19% of Fulfill’s distributions, and there was still high demand,” says Stephen Burciar, food sourcing specialist, Fulfill. “Everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food, but recent cuts to federal programs means we have to source more produce through purchases and donations to make up for the shortfall.”
Seashore’s experienced industry experts understand the complexities involved in meeting those needs. That’s in part because of the fruit and produce company’s long history: Founded in Atlantic City in 1908 and now based in Vineland, Seashore is a leader in the produce delivery industry. It’s vast network of national, regional and local growers has helped Seashore expand their reach to seven states. They now offer dairy, dried foods, non-food items, such as disposables including paper towels and napkins, and much more as well.
Stephen Wolk, director of sales at Seashore, says working in different sectors by serving schools, senior living facilities, casino hotels and other settings helped the company grow its expertise. He says the company’s more than 117-year commitment to partnering with the communities they serve has helped them make strategic decisions to better meet their customers’ needs.
While Fulfill has been utilizing Seashore as a produce vendor since 2022, the Seashore team has become more than a supplier – they have become a partner in support. Seashore employees often volunteer their time to pack food for Fulfill, donate food and other products beyond what Fulfill purchases, and sponsor and attend Fulfill events.
Wolk says a visit to Fulfill’s People’s Pantry in Toms River was a gripping, vivid example of why it was important for Seashore to support Fulfill.
“Lines of people who needed food were wrapped around the building,” recalls Wolk. “The People’s Pantry team told us this was a regular occurrence. Even though we knew there was a need, seeing and hearing about the increasing numbers of individuals visiting the pantry demonstrated for our team how dire the situation is. We were so impressed with how quickly and efficiently Fulfill distributed food, focusing on the dignity of every client.”
Understanding this need has helped transform the relationship between Fulfill and Seashore from that of a customer and vendor to something greater.
“Seashore helps us address complex logistical and budgeting issues, from planning to plating, storing to shipping and more,” says Burciar. “They’re creative and innovative; agile and available. They’re especially talented in brainstorming about – and bringing to fruition – what’s possible. That’s important as individuals and families facing hunger are in impossibly difficult situations.”
“The biggest thing for us is taking care of people in need,” adds Wolk of the partnership. “We love working with Fulfill, and we want to do even more in the years to come.”
Photo: L-R; Joe Rossi, Fulfill Logistics Coordinator; Stephen Johnson of Seashore Produce; Stephen Burciar, Fulfill Food Sourcing Specialist
