Produce proficiency: specialty produce operators are offering stiff competition in one of the most profitable supermarket categories

Specialized produce retailers, ranging from small independent operators to multistore chains, are providing stiff competition to supermarket produce departments. Such retailers can often be more successful than supermarkets at offering higher quality produce or produce geared to ethnic customers. Chicago's Sun Harvest Markets is trying to take advantage of the city's ethnic diversity. The produce selections at each of Sun Harvest's four stores are geared to different ethnic markets.
The roadside produce stand is back -- but these days, it is looking less like it rolled off of a farmer's pickup truck, and more like a savvy category kil- [...]