Coming full circle!
During the holiday rush co-owner James Gordon could be found at Crosby’s Marketplace slinging cases alongside their crew to ensure shoppers had premium products for their holiday feasts. Here is a little more info about James and how he got his start and passion that has grown UVP into what it is today.
James graduated from high school in 1990 with no interest in working in the family granite business. His interests were geared toward cars and motorcycles. While trying to make it in the auto industry, he took on a 2nd job at a local supermarket stocking shelves. This kickstarted a career in retail foodservice raising through the ranks as the youngest store manager for a large chain, then on to Produce Specialist working with independent grocers throughout New England for a wholesale distributor. From there he moved to retail counselor then onto district manager for a chain of local markets. When longtime friend Eric Frechette was looking to expand his distribution area with Taste of the North, the fit was there to purchase Upper Valley Produce. James considers the success of Upper Valley Produce to be one of his biggest accomplishments.
Upper Valley Produce believes in providing you with the freshest products exactly when you need them. UVP is a wholesale produce company centrally located in White River Junction, Vermont and is part of the UVP Group which includes Taste of the North. We have been at the forefront of the regionally responsible food movement, serving as a vital link in connecting local and regional growers to the greater New England markets. Our grower and producer relationships combined with customized logistics make us a leader in the distribution industry.
As a Regionally Responsible Food Distributor, we will source product within a 250 mile radius from our White River Junction, VT location whenever possible. In addition, we are purchasing products from the New England Produce Center in Boston, MA five days per week. However, we selectively service customers throughout VT, NH, MA as well as Southern ME and Northern RI. We are unique from the perspective that we service both food service and retail customers. This ranges from many of the fine restaurants in New England, schools/colleges, health care facilities, large and smaller grocery stores and boutique food outlets.
Upper Valley Produce values excellence and resilience, among others. This is important for you because we are innovative, dynamic and flexible when it comes to meeting our customers needs and solving problems they may face. After all, what matters to you…matters to us!
