10 Reasons Why the Produce Industry Sucks: A New Blog Series

If anyone understands the nuts and bolts of running a business, it’s me. I’ve spent the last 20 years eating, sleeping, breathing, buying, and selling all things related to the produce business. While produce is a blue collar, low margin industry it can be lucrative. The best part about it is it’s always evolving.

I love it, truly. However, as technology has changed, many fundamental concerns within the industry have been uncovered: inefficiencies in transactions have been exposed, moral compasses compromised, and once “traditional” rules of the industry are often broken. In an effort to do something different and create positive change, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and breaking down these issues.

The problem is, while there is an unwritten code of conduct within the industry, the old-fashioned mentality is gone. “Your word is your bond” doesn’t exist. These days, the guy with the best paperwork wins when there’s a dispute.

It’s time for a change.

Instead of adding value to the end customers and building more business, we’re all fighting over our share of the pie. The game is rigged, and when that happens, all bets are off, and it’s every man, woman, and child for themselves. The real loser is the end consumer and those of us who beat our heads against the wall day in/day out.

Inefficiencies within the industry are rampant on every level, and it’s getting old. There are solutions to every single one of the 10 things that make the produce industry suck. Instead of just beating my head against the wall, doing nothing about it, or letting it get me down like I used to, I’m putting it all out there.

At my company, Diamond, we are committed to systems and technology to overcome these challenges, obstacles, and annoyances. All of this commiserating inspired me to put pen to paper, and alas — a new blog series is born. Over the next few months, I’m going to tell you about what we’re doing to leave a positive mark on our industry and improve the lives of all our trading relationships by solving the 10 reasons why the produce biz is fubar, one reason at a time.

Intrigued? Stay tuned — there’s some great information coming your way.

A 20+ year entrepreneur with a no-B.S.-in-business attitude, Shaun Black has powered over $30 million in annual revenue with his trading and importing company, Diamond Produce, founded numerous successful local businesses, and remained on the cutting edge of national start-up industries for over a decade.

His experience as a grocer taught him the importance of exceeding expectations, one relationship at a time. Through systems, automation, and personal touch, his businesses deliver consistent retail-minded service. His “add value” approach to vendor and teams alike has paid dividends and been the driving force behind growth and profit.

When in Doubt, Add Value.