NOGALES, AZ — The World Series is the ultimate for every baseball player, coach and fan.  

In 2013,  Jesus (Chuy) Lopez Jr.,  sales manager for Nogales-based Big Chuy Distributors & Sons, Inc. coached his 13-year-old Nogales National Little League team into the Intermediate Division World Series (West).

Lopez, who played on Mexico’s National Softball Fast Pitch team, coached this team to an Arizona state championship.  Then the 13-year olds won the west regional championship in Irvine, CA, and then qualified in Livermore, CA, for the World Series.  Lopez said seven or eight boys on his team have parents who work in the Nogales produce industry.  

Jesus (Chuy) Lopez The Nogales team finished 1-3 in the World Series.  The victory was a 6-5 win over a very good team from Hawaii.  Also playing on the U.S. side in the World Series bracket were East, Midwest, Southeast and South teams, as well as a California team that hosted the event.  In the international bracket were teams representing Japan, Latin America, Canada, Puerto Rico and Ecuador.

This was Nogales’ first appearance in the Little League World Series.  Because of the Nogales weather, which features almost daily bright sunshine, local baseball players practice and compete throughout the year.  Lopez said his team practices at least three times a week, every week of the year.

“It helps me take some stress of work,” said Lopez, a warm, humble, low-key gentleman.  

Getting to the World Series “has been beautiful.  It has been great.  There is a lot of time put in by these kids.  It pays off in the end.”

Lopez and his brother and coworker Alex Lopez both played baseball.  Their father, the late Jesus (Big Chuy) Lopez, Sr., faithfully followed and supported his sons’ baseball passion.  “We were baseball fanatics,” he said.  Big Chuy Lopez passed away in 1998 after a sudden, deadly strike from cancer.  Lopez, who is a tall, broad-shouldered man like his father, has run the company since.

Big Chuy ships watermelons 10 months a year, only being out of the deal in August and September.  Mexico has always been the growing base for the company, but in the last two years the firm has begun shipping from California in June and July.

When The Produce News spoke with Lopez Jan. 28, he said seasonally-light Mexican watermelon was lighter than normal.  

The firm was receiving five to seven truckloads a day, when the seasonal norm is 20-30.  Up to ten days of December rains in Jalisco watermelon fields caused the setback.  “That was almost unheard of.  It was one of the worst rains in years. It was non-stop.”

Lopez’ father launched the business in 1988.  In 1996 he build a spacious office — highlighted by a light and tastefully-decorated two-story foyer —which is flanked by a modern warehouse.  The firm has a second large warehouse across the street.

Lopez said his family’s business has grown steadily over the years by acquiring more growers.

The future of the watermelon business is bright because “we sell a very healthy product.  Watermelon has great vitamins.  It’s a family fruit.  Kids love it.  It’s a little different from other produce because you take it on picnics.  It’s a great salad.”  

He credits the National Watermelon Promotion Board for funding health research that constantly finds new benefits of consuming the fruit.

Big Chuy ships its produce to retailers, terminal markets and foodservice customers throughout North America.

The company’s specialty has always been “Big Chuy” brand watermelon and winter squash. However, its program expanded to colored bell peppers, cucumbers and Italian squash. The firm has introduced personal melons featuring the “Little Chuy” label.