Banana Brothers Produce Helps Local Farmers Share the Wealth

Drew Gelardi appreciates how hard local farmers work.

But he also understands how difficult it can be for local producers to share their bounty with a vareity of customers.

That's when Gelardi and his family decided to serve as the middle man.

Gelardi started Banana Bros. Produce, a Hartland-based business that delivers fresh produce to a number of customers around Metro Detroit. For the past two years, Banana Bros. has been a regular at the Plymouth Farmers Market, helping sustain local farmers.

"For years, local farmers have been suffereing," Gelardi said. "So if there was a way we could help, (delivering produce) was something little we could do to help them."

Banana Bros. has traveled from farm to farm, picking up fresh produce and delivering seasonal produce to area farmer's markets, fruit stands and restaurants.

Rather than forcing farmers to limit themselves in which venue they'll sell their goods at, Banana Bros. does the work for them, allowing them to put the fruits of farmer's labors in front of a variety of customers.

The Plymouth Farmers Market runs from May-October. It operates on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Gathering in downtown Plymouth.