Havel joins new Nogales company
Havel joins new Nogales company
Jerry Havel, who was previously vice president of sales and marketing at SunFed in Nogales, AZ, as well as a partner in the company, is now director of sales and marketing for a newly formed produce distribution company in Nogales called Fresh Farms.
Fresh Farms, which opened in early October, is owned by the Molina Family in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, who are among the larger grape growers in Mexico, Mr. Havel told The Produce News. "They do an outstanding job in farming and in packing grapes."
Although known primarily as a grape shipper, the Molina organization also grows watermelons and squash.
Fresh Farms will market the Molina melons and squash and a portion of the grapes, "but not all of them," Mr. Havel said. Other distributors will continue to sell some of the Molina grapes.
"Our label is going to be 'Fresh Farms,' " Mr. Havel said.
"We are going to try to grow the business," he said. The Molina family plans to grow more product "both in Sonora and Sinaloa," and Fresh Farms will also be seeking outside growers who have products of comparable quality. "We hope to expand into more items and get more volume," he said.
Mr. Havel, who just completed his third season at SunFed, was previously the owner of U.S. Fresh Produce Sales in Visalia, CA, for seven years. He began his produce career in 1978 with Dole Bananas, where he spent seven years. He has also worked for Tri-Citrus, Sun Pacific Marketing and Heritage Produce.
Fresh Farms, which opened in early October, is owned by the Molina Family in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, who are among the larger grape growers in Mexico, Mr. Havel told The Produce News. "They do an outstanding job in farming and in packing grapes."
Although known primarily as a grape shipper, the Molina organization also grows watermelons and squash.
Fresh Farms will market the Molina melons and squash and a portion of the grapes, "but not all of them," Mr. Havel said. Other distributors will continue to sell some of the Molina grapes.
"Our label is going to be 'Fresh Farms,' " Mr. Havel said.
"We are going to try to grow the business," he said. The Molina family plans to grow more product "both in Sonora and Sinaloa," and Fresh Farms will also be seeking outside growers who have products of comparable quality. "We hope to expand into more items and get more volume," he said.
Mr. Havel, who just completed his third season at SunFed, was previously the owner of U.S. Fresh Produce Sales in Visalia, CA, for seven years. He began his produce career in 1978 with Dole Bananas, where he spent seven years. He has also worked for Tri-Citrus, Sun Pacific Marketing and Heritage Produce.
