Central American Produce Inc., based in Pompano Beach, FL, is having an “outstanding” mango season, according to company president Michael Warren.

“We are receiving beautiful Tommy’s from Nicaragua and Mexico, and will be starting our Guatemalan program by mid-March,” he told The Produce News on March 10. “We are expecting good volumes and are offering great promotions right through the spring.”

In addition to the company’s excellent mangos, its hard squash program has had another great season and its melon program has been steady, with a slight increase in seedless watermelon production, Warren said.

“Quality and color have been exceptional,” he added in regards to the hard squash.

Central American team members. (Photo by Marilena Osso)Like most companies along the East Coast, Central American has felt the brunt of the below-average temperatures this winter, however, it has still been a strong season overall, Warren noted.

“We’ve had a strong winter season,” he said. “The cold weather across the country has made business challenging. We have been feeling this in our fruit categories, as production has been good in most areas and demand off as the winter storms swept through. We are happy to see temperatures warming and demand picking up.”

The winter weather has affected mostly the mangos and melons, Warren added, noting that the company’s vegetable programs have remained strong with great demand on its butternut and spaghetti squash, as well as its leeks, green onions, radishes and radicchio.

“We are constantly amazed at the year-over-year growth in mango consumption, and we definitely saw demand outpace supply with our hard squash program this winter,” Warren went on to say. He attributed the hard squash’s growth in demand to its unique color and flavor, which it picks up from the company’s growing conditions.

“Customers each year recognize the difference and demand grows for product from our own farms,” he added.

Central American’s CAPCO Farms mangos are available year-round, loading from six different countries.

Its hard squash and melons are packed in the Mayan Pride label and its Guatemalan vegetable line is packed in the M&S label.

In addition to all the success and growth the company experienced with its products this past year, Central American has also grown its team of employees with the hire of Mauricio Sanchez as its new chief operating officer.

“He has many years of experience in corporate reorganization and implementing strategic change,” Warren said of Sanchez.

“We are having strong company growth and Mauricio recognized the strength of our reputation and the excitement in every breath of our industry,” he added.

Warren added that Central American Produce is also in the process of screening experienced sales people for new positions within the company.

“We are a family business with many years of experience at the farm, in logistics and marketing,” Warren said. “It is the connection that delivers the final product to the customer. This, combined with our renewed emphasis on customer relations and service, is our passion.”