SALINAS, CA - Brussels sprouts, food safety, and excellence. These and more are but a few points in Ippolito International’s mission to bring the best quality to customers along the line. And as needs continue to grow, Keith Mallett and Herman Cossio clue us into how the production is carried out.

“Over the past five to 10 years, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in demand for Brussels sprouts,” Keith, Chief Operating Officer, noted. “We take a lot of pride in the fact that we go through extra steps of packing our Brussels sprouts. So that way our customers are assured of the quality that they are going to receive on a daily basis.”

Three crews are out in the fields every day from 3 a.m. to about noon harvesting Brussels sprouts primed for packing. As one of North America’s largest Brussels sprouts shippers, the grower has witnessed an increase in demand across foodservice, retail, and wholesale.

To bring this to fruition takes a dedicated team and a strong company culture.

Across the departments, Ippolito has taken the mantle to dedicate quality in not just food but workplace health.

“We make sure that every single crop we grow—from lettuce, Romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, all the way to our famous Brussels sprouts—that we’re following the same rule, no matter what,” Herman, Director of Food Safety, commented. “One of the great things that I love about Ippolito International is the dedication that the company has. We have about a 95 percent higher retention rate for our employees, which makes it easier for me because I don't have to train new employees every year or educate them in regard to food safety.”

Check out our exclusive video above to learn more about Ippolito and its stake in quality.

Ippolito International