Our Story

Our way of thinking is plain and simple: get you apples that are bursting with flavor, top-notch quality, and kept as clean as a whistle. And how do we do that? By working hand-in-glove with our select grower partners – folks who’ve been coaxing life out of the land for generations, sharing the very same values as us.

Alright, pull up a chair and let me tell you a bit about how we RedHeads came to be and why we do what we do. It’s a tale of good apples, good folks, and honest hard work, woven right into the soil of New England and New York.

You see, the exact dates on the old paperwork might get a bit blurry, but one thing’s always been as clear as a crisp autumn morning: JP Sullivan has always been about workin’ hand-in-glove with the very best growers around here. We don’t settle for less, and neither should you. That’s a commitment that’s never wavered, and it’s why our apples stand head and shoulders above the rest.

It all started back in the 1920s with Joseph P. Sullivan. A sharp fella, he was. He saw that if all us growers pulled together, we’d have more sway in the market. There’s power in numbers, aye, just like a good, strong family. So, with more volume and a wider variety of apples, those growers could reach farther and sell more. And that’s how JP Sullivan & Co. was properly born – by understanding what the market needed before anyone else.

Not long after, Edward O’Neill Sr. came along. Now, he was a Boston College man with a law degree, mind you, but his heart was still back with those early days sellin’ vegetables from his wagon. He saw the good Joseph was doing and had the good sense to join forces. Before you knew it, Edward, and his family, bless ’em, kept the apple business thriving, growin’ and findin’ new ways to do things. Some might call it luck; we call it knowing how to pick the right partners and the right path.

Today, we’re still filled with folks who’ve lived and breathed apples their whole lives. You’ve got a third-generation O’Neill leadin’ the way in the orchards, makin’ sure we’re nurturing the next generation of growers and the next generation of fruit. It’s all about knowin’ the land, knowin’ the apple, and knowin’ the people – lessons you can’t learn from a book. And that, my friends, is our story, etched right into every apple we grow. A legacy few can match, if any.

Meet the Crew

  • John Russel

    President
    With more than three decades in this business, John's roots are tangled deep in the apple world. He grew up in it and knows every twist and turn of the supply chain, from the farmer's field to the store shelf.

  • Steve Wright

    VP, Sales
    Steve has been in the produce business for years, and he's seen it all from every angle — a true veteran in the field. He speaks the language of both our growers and the buyers, workin' hard to grow our business and make sure everyone gets a fair shake.

  • Scott Dault

    Director of Sales
    Scott brings more than two decades of sales and marketing smarts, with a good eye for the produce industry. He's built up years of honest relationships and works to grow partnerships that benefit every single person involved.

  • John Woodall

    Account Manager
    Comin' from the retail side of things and then spendin' time with the Michigan Apple Committee, John knows exactly what the industry needs. He's not afraid to dig into the data to find opportunities and make a strong case for our apples.

  • Bill Swindell

    Transportation & Logistics
    Bill knows every twist and turn of the road. He works hard to be a good partner to the transportation folks and makes sure our apples get where they're goin' when they're supposed to—on time and in top-notch shape.

  • Jimmy Smith

    Sales & Logistics Coordinator
    Jimmy started his career gettin' to know the lay of the land, workin' with folks right in the stores. From there, he moved into the apple industry, learnin' all the ins and outs and quickly earnin' his stripes.