Gulf Coast Produce wins $3 million WIC contract

BILOXI -- Gulf Coast Produce has won a bid to supply fresh fruits and vegetables for the state-subsidized Women Infants and Children program throughout Mississippi.

"It's a $3 million bid that we won," said Mike Alise, who owns the Biloxi company with his wife, Christi.

WIC provides healthy foods for women and children in the state and Gulf Coast Produce will supply apples, oranges, sweet potatoes and white potatoes, along with cut cabbage.

WIC operates in 103 locations and Alise said, "We will deliver once a week to these 103 locations throughout the whole state."

Gulf Coast Produce bid on the contract for the last three or four years and Alise said it is the first time the company's won. The contract has an option for a second year.

"Everything's coming out of Biloxi," he said, which means more local jobs.

"This puts us way over $30 million for sales for 2016," he said.

Gulf Coast Produce, which operates on Bohn Street in East Biloxi, celebrated its 20th year in 2015. The company also has a newly remodeled produce store on Eisenhower Drive in West Biloxi.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Gulf Coast Produce wins $3 million WIC contract ."