Rueben's takes almost the entire produce department outside for Maxwell Street Days, when vendors in Hartford, Wis., display their merchandise out on the sidewalk. Thirty-five to 40 items are on sale at one time.
Produce Manager Brian Collegnon said Rueben's recently doubled the size of its organic offerings. “As the price of organics are getting competitive with conventional produce, obviously more and more people are trying it,” he said.
Local is a priority at Rueben's. Some of Collegnon's relationships with local suppliers go back decades.
Collegnon aims to create a farmers' market atmosphere in his produce department.
"I love to do theme ads and coordinating displays. I try to change the front display set-up every week, so the customer always has a new look," said Collegnon, who was chosen as one of United Fresh's 2012 Produce Managers of the Year.
Last year Collegnon took over 500 elementary school children on Rueben's store tours that introduced them to different departments. He also offered in-school sampling events.