“The keys of success here really depend on the weather and your farmers being able to handle the weather conditions and keeping the crop sprayed,” Myrick said. “We have excellent farmers who have been doing this for a long time. They have the ability to make a crop when other times people struggle.”
While the amount of farmers in Florida has decreased in recent years, Georgia continues to expand.
“Most of them talk and try to help each other, and everyone wants everyone to be successful,” Myrick said. “That’s good for supply. A lot of people are looking for domestic stuff that time of year, and Georgia hits a good window.”
Working in Georgia involves dealing with a diverse range of soils, including muckland, sand and clay, and that helps Edward L. Myrick Produce offer different commodities in the marketplace, and over the last three decades, the Georgia operations has grown quite a bit.
“We do about 1,800 acres a year,” Myrick said. “We’re a little further north than a lot of others, so our season usually starts around May 15 and ends around July 1.”
In Georgia, the company will work with Vidalia onions, beans, cucumbers and squash. Those represent Edward L. Myrick Produce’s biggest crops in the state. Other items the company deals in include eggplant, hot peppers, cabbage, hot peppers and onions.
“It’s our seasonal operation in Georgia and we do a lot of the same things we do in Florida,” Myrick said. “It helps our supply chain and lets us be a year-round supplier. As we get done in Central North Florida, we move to Georgia, and then around July 1, we move up to Michigan. So, it fills that hole in the supply chain and fits well for what we do.”
Last year, Edward L. Myrick Produce offered broccoli from Georgia for the first time and it proved to be a success.
“You need to be able to adapt and be innovative, trying to keep your costs down and provide the best for your customers,” Myrick said.
Photo: Ed Myrick and Jimmy Myrick of Myrick Produce
