Caravia Fresh Foods

Caravia Fresh Foods was founded in the spirit of Italy – the old country – on a strong foundation of family and community, and with a focus on fresh ingredients, quality Italian products, and outstanding customer service.

For prepared foods they offer a deli’s worth of sandwiches, paninis, and wraps.

It sells produce, baked goods, artisan cheeses, and has a “Gourmet Pantry” that sells hummus bread dips, spreads, salsas, tortas, and marinades and dressings.

They also offer TONS of Holiday specials, including shrimp cocktail and a holiday cheese board.

The Cognetti family opened Caravia in 2004, after Joe Cognetti sold his wholesale produce business. Joe and his son, Ryan, and cousins Peter and Marianne, were looking to build on their tradition of large family meals with plenty of fresh Italian dishes, and also wanted to bring the burgeoning trend of organic, locally-sourced food to their community.

The Cognettis took these inspirations and got to work. They named their concept Caravia Fresh Foods, honoring their Italian heritage through Joseph’s grandmother, Michelena Caravia, from San Mango, Calabria, Italy. With “fresh foods,” the family emphasized the organic and local produce, sandwiches, soups and prepared foods they would offer.

To build out the store, they first set up a prepared foods department, and ensured that all the food was made from the freshest possible ingredients. Next, they chose the highest-quality and most unique grocery items they could find, including a wide range of imported Italian specialties. Finally, Joe leveraged generations of Cognetti produce industry knowledge to make a produce section that has become a destination for local customers, and even many travelers passing through as they head to vacation destinations in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

“Found this place by asking someone when we were passing through town, where’s a good place to eat? So we went and check it out. I wanted to buy the whole store and told them to please open one in the Binghamton outskirts of town!”