1930’s
Pictured here at Lennox Lane at the corner of the Lancaster County Courthouse is Paul Checkley who begins selling produce in downtown Lancaster
Early 1930’s
Paul Checkley begins working with Earl P. Kegel and James C. Lenox, Sr. selling produce at a fruit stand outside the Lancaster County Courthouse and the retail store, M.T. Garvin on the corner of Prince and Orange Street in Lancaster – produce was brought in from a broker in Philadelphia – the same broker that Kegel’s Produce uses today.
1945
Earl P. Kegel’s brother opens Kegel’s Seafood Restaurant – the restaurant is now operated by Clarence’s two sons, Tommy and David who still buy from Kegel’s Produce today.
1945
Earl P. Kegel’s brother, George operates a fish stand on Southern Market.
1946
Mary Myers joins the company. Mary Myers’ family owned the Myers Brothers Well Drilling Company – this picture shows Ken with the truck working behind Kegel’s Seafood Restaurant – the truck used in the family business is the truck Kegel’s Produce uses today for displays, parades and promotional events.
1948
Earl P. Kegel leases half of the Engleside building and begins distributing produce to stands at Central Market and local grocery stores – market customers included Bob Funk, John Stoner, Clyde Slaymaker, Bob Wiker and Angie Colatta Matacia – Ken Myers works with Earl in all facets of the business – company sent representatives to Lancaster County Restaurant Association meetings.
1950
Earl P. Kegel’s son Eugene graduates from medical school to become a gynecologist – Dr. Kegel is retired today.
1957
Earl P. Kegel is incorporated.
1961
John “Bo” Smith begins working for Earl P. Kegel and is still working at Kegel’s Produce today.
1965
Ken Myers marries Suzanne “Sue” Vlassis.
1967
Earl P. Kegel buys building on Mulberry Street from I. B. Musser and moves the produce business to new location – no loading docks – most produce unloaded on Mulberry Street – Ken’s first restaurant customer was Lombardo’s who still buys from Kegel’s Produce today – word spread about the freshness and quality.
1967
John Pazakis, independent produce distributor, begins buying produce from Earl. P. Kegel.
1970
Kenny Myers was born – Sue worked part time in the office and began making fruit baskets – Ken coined the phrase “Fresh is Best” and attached it to all the fruit baskets.
June 1971
Jim McCully begins driving to Philadelphia to pick up produce at the Terminal Market – Jim continued to work for Kegel’s Produce for 34 years before retiring.
1973
Earl P. Kegel passes away.
June 1981
Dick Schnader becomes the first order selector for Kegel’s Produce, a duty which he performed until his retirement in 2008.
May 1986
Donna Potts hired in office and continued to work for Kegel’s Produce for 20 years before retiring – all paperwork done by hand.
1986
Fresh cut vegetables get their start at Earl P. Kegel, Inc. – Millersville University was one of the first fresh cut customers and still uses Kegel’s Produce today.
January 1989
Ken Myers buys business from Earl P. Kegel, Inc.
1989
Sue Myers joins the Susquehanna Valley Chef’s Association and begins expanding the sales territory to York.
June 1989
Kenny Myers graduates from high school and continues his training in the business – designs the famous “cherry” logo.
1989
Representatives from the company attend their first PMA convention in Anaheim, CA.
1989
Kenny Myers begins selling – his first customer was Isaac’s, a local group of deli-style restaurants.
1989
Lancaster Newspapers called and Kegel’s Produce had first newspaper story.
1990
Kenny Myers begins buying produce direct from California – first direct supplier is Tom Lange who still works with Kegel’s Produce today.
January 11th, 1992
Ken Myers passes away.
1992
Built fresh cut room at the Mulberry Street location to expand fresh cut business to include fruits and more varieties of vegetables.
1994
Bought first vegetable machine to make carrot sticks – all other fruits and vegetables cut by hand.
1995
Began using MAS 90 business system to help with office work.
July 1997
Business moves to Loop Road location.
1997
Kyrovac machine implemented in fresh cut rooms.
July 1999
Kenny Myers attends Produce Academy sponsored by the Produce Marketing Association in Monterey, CA.
2000
Earl P. Kegel, Inc. becomes Kegel’s Produce.
May 2001
Produce computer system implemented.
July 28th, 2001
KJ Myers is born. He is the 4th generation of the Myers family involved with Kegel’s Produce.
Spring 2001
New Kegel’s Produce logo introduced.
October 2001
Customer Service department implemented.
January 2002
Garver Produce acquisition.
February 2002
Kegel’s Produce begins using own tractor-trailer to bring fresh produce back from the Philadelphia Market daily and from Virginia, Maryland and Florida.
June 2002
Nye Produce acquisition.
June 2002
Quality Assurance department implemented – team members begin HACCP training.
July 2002
Transportation Department and computerized routing system implemented.
November 2002
Two-way cellular phone communication system put in place for all drivers, produce consultants and warehouse personnel.
December 30th, 2002
Kegel’s Produce aquires the former HEWI building in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.
January 27th, 2003
Kegel’s Produce honored with the Lancaster County Restaurant Association Associate Member of the Year award.
October 2003
Kenny Myers is appointed to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s newly formed Agriculture Education Advisory Board.
November 2003
Kenny Myers is picked as one of the Forty Under 40 by the Central Penn Business Journal.
January 1st, 2004
The World Famous Produce Playground opens.
January 1st, 2004
UGOBOY Trucking is formed.
January 25th, 2004
John “Bo” Smith wins Employee of the Year award, and Kenny Myers is named Vice President.
February 29th, 2004
Kegel’s Produce ships first order from our present location, at 2851 Old Tree Drive.
March 1st, 2004
Business officially starts at the new location.
March 3rd, 2004
Bo’s Famous Tomato Scale is ceremoniously retired.
April 28th, 2004
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Kegel’s Produce at our brand-new facility.
April 28th & 29th, 2004
Kegel’s Produce Open House hosted in brand-new facility.
June 3rd, 2004
Kerek Charles Myers is born. He is the second son and fourth generation of the Myers family in the produce business.
June 24th, 2004
Kegel’s Produce becomes a member of the Produce Alliance.
June 24th, 2004
Kenny Myers named to 2004 Lancaster Multiple Sclerosis Society Leadership Class
November 2004
The Pennsylvania Restaurant Association honors Kegel’s Produce with one of its six 2004 Excellence in Food Safety Awards.
July 2005
John Groft, Vice President of Operations, graduates from the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Produce Academy
July 2005
Kenny Myers elected to Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Division Board of Directors
January 2006
Kegel’s Produce is certified a Women’s Business Enterprise
March 15, 2006
First shipment of SON SHINE! product is sold
November 2006
Kegel’s Produce is included in the Lancaster County Historical Society’s book “Lancaster at Work: Businesses in Lancaster County, Pa.”
March 2007
Kegel’s Produce is named 2006 Purveyor of the Year for the second time by the Susqehanna Valley Chef’s Association
June 2007
Kenny Myers is named to Produce Business’s 40 UNDER FORTY
December 5, 2007
Koby Nicholas Myers is born. Koby is youngest of three boys that make up the 4th generation of the Myers family.
January 2008
Kegel’s Produce introduces the 60th Anniversary Logo
February 2008
Dick Schnader retires after 27 years of service to Kegel’s Produce. Dick is often referred to as “the first order selector”. Dick was a great asset to Kegel’s Produce and we thank him for his years of dedication and hard work.
August 2008
Kegel’s Produce is awarded iKitchen certification by Darden Restaurants. iKitchen is Darden Restaurants state of the art online ordering system designed to improve order and accounting quality.
September 2008
Kegel’s Produce was featured in Lancaster County Magazine for the upcoming celebration of our 60th Anniversary.
October 18th and 19th, 2008
Kegel’s Produce hosts a weekend-long celebration of the company’s sixty years of business.
January 2009
Suzanne Myers produces the first bottles of her own dressing creation called Yia Yia’s. John Groft was on hand with Suzanne when the first bottles rolled off the assembly line at Lancaster Fine Foods.