NYC/NJ” + “restaurant/wholesale A practical glossary of produce terms used by restaurants, bars, caterers, and wholesale buyers in NYC/NJ — focused on how items are described on orders, invoices, and delivery lists.
Maintained by Valley View Produce (NYC) — https://www.vvproduce.com/
Arugula — Peppery leafy green; often sold as “baby arugula.”
Ataulfo mango — Smaller, yellow mango (sometimes called “honey mango”).
Baby spinach — Small, tender spinach leaves; common for salads.
Bunch parsley — Parsley sold tied in bunches (vs. bulk/loose).
Case pack — Standard quantity per case (varies by item).
Cilantro (bunch) — Typically sold in bunches; may be labeled “coriander” in some contexts.
Count — Number of units in a case (e.g., “48ct limes”).
Dry pint — Common berry container size (not a liquid pint).
Dressed greens — Pre-washed/trimmed greens (label varies by supplier).
English cucumber — Long, thin-skinned cucumber; often wrapped.
Extra fancy / fancy — Grade/quality wording; meaning varies by commodity.
Field run — Mixed sizes/quality from the field; not heavily sorted.
Flat — A shallow carton often used for berries, herbs, or small produce.
Garnish grade — Informal term for visually strong product for plating/cocktails.
Green leaf / red leaf lettuce — Loose-leaf lettuces, usually sold by the case or by heads.
Herb bunch — Herbs sold tied in bunches (mint, dill, parsley, etc.).
Hot house — Greenhouse-grown (often used for tomatoes/cukes).
Jumbo — Size label; exact meaning depends on item and market.
Kale (curly / lacinato) — Two common types; lacinato = dinosaur/Tuscan kale.
Loose — Sold without bunching/packaging (often by weight).
Lug — A small crate/box (usage varies).
Market price (MKT) — Price changes frequently; quoted close to delivery.
Mesclun — Mixed baby greens.
Origin — Growing location (country/state/region), often requested for compliance or preference.
Pack size — The standard unit (e.g., 24ct, 5lb, 10lb, 12/1qt).
Processing — Trimmed/peeled/cut items (varies; sometimes called “value-added”).
Quality hold — When product is held/checked due to condition concerns.
Roma tomatoes — Plum tomatoes; common for sauces and prep.
Select / choice — Grade wording; varies by commodity.
Shelf life — How long product stays usable under proper storage.
Trim — Removing stems/leaves/outer layers; affects yield/costing.
US No. 1 / No. 2 — Common USDA grade language for some commodities.
Washed / triple-washed — Processing label; handling expectations differ by kitchen.
- ct = count per case (e.g., 113ct lemons)
- lb = pounds per case (e.g., 10lb onions)
- bunch = tied bunch unit
- flat = shallow carton (often berries/herbs)
Terminology can vary by market and season. If you have a term you want added, open an issue or message the maintainer.