stock market
Meet the produce managers buying and stocking local goods for you.
By Nicole Barley | Photography by Megan Wylie ruffing

East End Food Co-op

Produce Manager: Aaron Young Operations manager: Joe Coley

At the East End Food Co-op, “We do all organic,” says produce manager Aaron Young. “If it’s grown organic, then we can get it.” The store also tries to feature produce that is “as local as possible.” Look for lo cal greens, yellow squash, zucchini, watermelons, pumpkins, and apples during August and September. The store also stocks hydroponic lettuce from Milestone Specialty Produce, year round. And, if you’re not sure about how to cook a particular product, just ask. “We can help with that,” says Young. East End Food Co-op, 7516 Meade St., East Liberty. 412.242.3598 . www.eastendfoodcoop.com

Giant Eagle

Produce Manager: Tom Eynon Vice President: Craig Ignatz

Giant Eagle vice president of produce Craig Ignatz highlights the company’s “long tradition of bringing local produce into our stores. Last year, we had 100-plus farmers in our operating area that deliver to our stores or to our warehouses,” he says. Ignatz also feels strongly about how the company labels the origins of local produce. “We denote the store, the farm, and the location of the product,” he says. “If you would ask produce executives around the country the top 10 points of interest, looking forward, trend-wise, this is definitely one of them. The whole local food movement is growing.” Giant Eagle, www.gianteagle.com

Right By Nature

Produce Manager: Ellie Liberatore

Right By Nature produce manager Ellie Liberatore considers an empty produce case her “palette” where she can paint a beautiful picture. Liberatore most loves being out on the floor, “putting produce out and seeing what it looks like.” If she had her way, she’d set up one big table in the center of the department, stocked solely with locally grown goodies — kind of like a farmers’ market, indoors. The store, located in the Strip District, brings in local products from McElhinny Farm, Cool Springs Farm, Clarion River Farm, and a number of others as the season progresses. “We stay with the same farmers because we know their prod uce is fresh. We put our trust in our local farmers,” she says. She’s got a great recipe for a homegrown tomato sandwich. See below! Right By Nature, 2305 Smallman St., Strip District. 412.454.6200.  www.rightbynature.net

Whole Foods Market

Produce Specialist: AllenTingley

The colorful, clear signage posted around the produce department (and beyond) in Whole Foods Market — what’s local, what’s in season, what’s organic — is a strategy that’s been carefully cultivated for shoppers’ convenience. “When you walk in the door, we try to showcase the highest quality, freshest, local-as-we-can-get-it, diverse product, and really talk about the products through signage,” says marketing director Kim Wynnyckyj. “Our customers are educated and they care abo ut what goes into their bod ies, and they hone in on what is organic or what is local.” The store’s produce specialist Allen Tingley also highlights the helpfulness of the staff. “Ninety percent of our job is to interact with the customer. We’re here as sources of knowledge. And that’s not to say we don’t learn anything from our customers, either. One of my favorite pastimes is learning people’s old wives tales [about produce],” he says with a laugh. Whole Foods Market, 5880 Centre Ave., Shadyside. 412.441.7960. www.wholefoodsmarket.com