Paradise Produce open for business

Fresh fruits and veggies available 5 days a week in Marathon

Paradise Produce open for business - A store filled with lots of fruit - Jay Haas

Like many local businesses, Paradise Produce closed its doors for the month of September. The distinction, though, is the number of folks who welcomed its reopening on Oct. 1 with such gusto. It’s a great achievement for the three-year-old business.

“Business has been steady,” said employee Kevin Anderson, who works for owners Cesar and Alani Sandoval. “Customers come in waves. One clears out and I have time to restock and tidy up, and the next group comes in.”

It’s hard to resist all the bright colors and rich textures and healthy vibe. The tomatoes are outstanding. The avocados are ripe. The cilantro aroma has the right amount of bite. And then there are the special offerings, too, varied depending on what’s good at the market. On a recent Tuesday it was passion fruit and poblanos and banana peppers and Asian pears, which is a perfect cross between an apple and a pear. Anderson fetched one from the cooler and cut it up on the spot to share with customers. He’s a wealth of information.

“If you’re making sandwiches, I would go with the special yellow tomato — I love those — they are a tiny bit sweeter. And you want a Florida avocado because it holds together a little bit better between the bread,” he said. “But guac? Well, then you need a Haas avocado. I’m definitely a Haas man.”

Paradise Produce is always trying out new avenues. The locally sourced honey is VERY local — from the Sombrero Beach Road. It’s started selling jars of special tea like the hibiscus flower tea (think cranberry tart and sweet).

Paradise Produce is open Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sara Matthis thinks community journalism is important, but not serious; likes weird and wonderful children (she has two); and occasionally tortures herself with sprint-distance triathlons, but only if she has a good chance of beating her sister.