Produce Junction – the local chain that focuses on fruits, vegetables, and flowers – has been honing its specialty selection for years to serve the region’s diverse population, writes Cassie Owens for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The chain is stocking items that cannot be consistently found in area supermarkets. These include Thai eggplants, cactus pears, dragon fruit, chayotes, and Indian bitter melons.

Produce Junction has been following the demographic change happening in the Philadelphia area. The immigrant population has grown by 20 percent between 2009 and 2016, with two immigrants living outside the city for each one in the city.

This is why, in addition to its West Philadelphia location, it has 16 suburban locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They include stores in Exton and Phoenixville in Chester County and in Glenolden, Broomall, Darby, and Boothwyn in Delaware County.

Staffers at the stores had noticed a growing number of requests from immigrant customers for certain produce. So the company expanded its efforts from there.

“We’re doing it because there’s a demand for it,” said Produce Junction owner Albert Gentile.

The expanded selection also helps all of its customers with new recipes, or when recreating a dish they tried when travelling abroad.

Read more about Produce Junction in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.