Local salsa makers keep getting bigger

Remember those Pace Picante salsa ads where the Texans said, "NEW YORK CITY?!?" Then they strung someone up because only the best salsa was made in Texas. Well, Ferndale-based Garden Fresh Gourmet might give all other salsas a run for their money - both in taste and business scope. They're growing, and fast. Now, think about the Pace commercial but instead of Texans it's a group of bike-riding hipsters in cut-off jean shorts saying, "NEW YORK CITY?!?" Then they proceed to string someone up for not eating Ferndale salsa.

Excerpt:

Annual revenue for the company is quickly approaching $100 million, thanks to the acceptance of the company’s products by such chains as Meijer, Costco, Kroger, Wegmans, A&P and distribution that now reaches 40 states. From manufacturing and distribution facilities in Ferndale, Detroit, and Inkster, the company produces 115,000 pounds of salsa each day with the help of nearly 315 statewide employees

“We’ve really spend a lot of time the past four to five years putting together a line no one else can top in meeting the needs of deli buyers within retail chains,” said Dave Zilko, vice president of Garden Fresh Gourmet and owner of Monkey Duck Mustard. “Salsa will always be the lead dog in our product offering but we have as comprehensive of a product line as any of our competitors.”

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