Wholesum focused on shoring up vegetable segments
Wholesum focused on shoring up vegetable segments
NOGALES, AZ — Eggplant is the current focus in the effort of Wholesum Family Farms Inc., to move to year-round shipping programs.
Ricardo Crisantes Sr., vice president of sales and marketing for the company, which is based here, said that eggplant is currently the “biggest gap” in the firm’s year-round vegetable vision. Wholesum is creating nine acres of a poly greenhouse to have eggplant from May until November. This will complement Wholesum’s current availability from December to May.
Long, English cucumbers and slicer cucumbers are also moving to a year-round Wholesum program, he added. The firm has four acres of cucumbers growing under glass in Mexico. That harvest started in mid-October.
Tomatoes, squash and peppers are fulfilling Wholesum’s 12-month shipping program.
Another Wholesum focus is to improve yellow squash production, Crisantes indicated. Yellow squash skin is delicate and provides a lower yield than zucchini. “To this point we’ve tried to put yellow squash in the field, under shade and in a greenhouse to make a more sheltered environment. Sometimes you get a great plant and the yields are not there. You need yields for your investment. We are still trying to figure out yellow squash.”
He noted that problems with the tender skin of yellow squash extend to produce departments. A firm squeeze by a tactile consumer will bruise the product, regardless of the care that got it onto the display shelf.
