Fruit Center Marketplace Celebrates 40 Years of Growth

Fruit Center Marketplace is celebrating its 40-year anniversary. Incorporated in the spring of 1973 by entrepreneur Don Mignosa, this gourmet grocery with outposts in Milton and Hingham, Massachusetts is currently operated by his grown sons, Mark and Mike Mignosa. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="244"] (l-r) Ike Mignosa, Steve Di Giusto, Mark Mignosa[/caption] In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Fruit Center Marketplace debuted its Local Chefs Series, cooking demonstrations by some of the region’s top talents, including Catherine Walthers, private chef and author of the top-selling cookbook “Raising the Salad Bar.” April’s demonstration lineup includes chef Nuno Alves of Tavolo (4/1), local fish expert Peter Howard (4/4), chef-owner Chris Douglass of Ashmont Grill (4/22) and Cynthia Gallo-Casey of The Roman Table in Scituate (4/25). Class descriptions and sign-ups are at fruitcentermarkplace.com. Also during its anniversary year, Fruit Center is rolling out an expanded selection of high-end and custom gift baskets for corporate and personal occasions from retirements to graduations. Fruit Center Marketplace’s two 14,000-square-foot stores fly slightly under the grocery radar, like a well-kept community secret, say company officials, despite its features: a community giving program that benefits hundreds of South Shore organizations annually; employment of 250 full and part-time workers; on-site, full service breakfast and lunch restaurant called The Marketplace Café; monthly seminars by a certified nutritionist; seasonal 4-course wine dinners; and the longest salad bar south of Boston. Happy Anniversary Fruit Center Marketplace.