“When I was a 10-year old boy, my father owned a corner grocery store. I loved getting up early enough to join him on his trips to the Detroit Produce Terminal to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. That place was wild and exciting for a young kid like me—just constant activity, earthy smells, and farmers from all over the region haggling at 5:00 a.m.! Once we got back to the store, my dad would task me with setting up the produce displays. I really think that being involved with the whole process and seeing it with my own eyes helped me understand the products well enough to answer the customers’ questions. Even at such a young age. Great memories…but also important lessons that I’ve carried into my years in food service.”
