My journey with Indianapolis Fruit Company began in 2005 when I was hired as a Sales Representative for our newly-formed Hispanic Sales Division.  I studied Spanish in college & formerly worked as a high school Spanish teacher.  Like many businesses,  Indy Fruit was looking to connect & capitalize on the growing Hispanic/Latino demographic in our distribution network.  My primary job duty in 2005 was to solicit new business amongst our growing “bodega” retailers in central Indiana.  I spent most of my days making cold calls & visits, hoping someone would trust the gringa from Indy Fruit & sling some purchases my way.  I was 1 of just 2 bilingual employees in our office at the time.  So, I was often used to translate HR documents, represent our company at community outreach programs, and more.  One of my favorite “side duties” though was helping our buyers make phone calls to growers in Spanish speaking countries.

If you eat much produce, you have probably noticed the little PLU stickers that are a total nuisance when you want to wash & eat fruit.  I hate peeling them off my peaches, nectarines or pears because the skin always comes off with the sticker!  Ugh!

Those little stickers became very important in 2009 when the federal government began full implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling Law (COOL).  The numbers are PLUs – which is just a coding system that helps the cashiers at your retailer know how much they are supposed to charge you for your bulk produce.   However, the purpose of the COOL has more to do with the countries on those annoying PLU stickers than the numbers.  If you actually look at the PLU sticker, you will notice that it ALWAYS lists a country.  Bingo.  The fruit was grown in that country!  And, if you are a Hispanic culture freak like me, you may have noticed that the country is often Mexico or another Central/South America gem.

I will never forget the day I was asked to assist our mango buyer, Jim, with a call to a grower in Juatiapa, Guatamala.  Have you ever heard of Juatiapa?  They have never heard of Indianapolis, either.  And they have certainly never heard of Indianapolis Fruit.  I literally spent several minutes during this international phone call trying to enunciate “Indianapolis.”  I spelled it in English & Spanish.  I even tried the “3 hours south of Chicago” line.  Nothing.  Finally – I said, “Indianapolis, la ciudad de Peyton Manning (Indianapolis, Peyton Manning’s city).”  At that moment the light bulb clicked & the Spanish-speaking Guatemalan farmer said, “Ah- Peyton Manning.  Indianapolis.  Go Colts!”  I was speechless.

Once I realized how effective the “ciudad de Peyton Manning” tactic was, I used it every time I called a farmer in one of these agriculture villages of Central or South America.  And guess what…. EVERY TIME, they replied with “Oh, Indianapolis.”  And on to business & bargaining it was.

No person will ever have more of an impact on the great city of Indianapolis.  Thank you to #18.  It goes well beyond winning football games, being a Super Bowl Champ & 4-time league MVP.    It’s the Peyton Manning who built a world-class children’s hospital on the northwest side of the city & the guy who created the Project 18 wellness curriculum for our area youth – that’s the Peyton Manning who we all, both the Colts fans & foes, will miss.

Peyton Manning has put people like me in a position to refer to this great city as “ciudad de Peyton Manning.”  And I have a feeling that just like all us Colts Fans, the Hispanic farmers will forever identify Indy with this football great.

Indianapolis.  You really could go as far to say that it is the city that Peyton built.

xoxo Produce Mom