Higueral Produce to build new facility in 2016
Higueral Produce to build new facility in 2016
By October 2016 Higueral Produce, Inc. will be operating from a new Rio Rico office and warehouse facility.
Edgar Duarte, a partner in the Rio Rico firm, said the land purchase was completed in October 2015. There will be 15,000 square feet of cold storage and about 5,000 square feet of office space at the new location in Rio Rico.
Edgar Duarte, a partner in Higueral Produce, Inc., showing Higueral’s tomatillo offering. On the shipping side, Higueral’s fall Mexican program will soon be in full swing, according to Duarte.
Chilies and tomatillos from Hermosillo and Obregon, Sonora, will be in full production in late November.
In North American markets, tomatillo demand is increasing because of rising demand for green salsa from foodservice firms like Taco Bell and Chipotle, Duarte noted.
Higueral also distributes Roma tomatoes, squash and sweet corn.
In 2016, Higueral will be at least doubling its mango volume. This year Higueral handled between 250 and 300 loads of Mexican mangoes. “Our growers see their mango volume going up” and Higueral will be distributing about 600 trailerloads of mangos next year.
In February, Higueral will begin its mango deal, with Ataulfos coming from Chiapas. Mexican Tommy Atkins mangos are expected for March and Haydens in April. Higueral will be distributing Kents in May and June and will finish the summer with Keitts in July, August and September. Higueral has growers in Sonora who produce in a fruit fly-free zone, which is exempt of hot water treatment for USDA APHIS protocol. Late summer mangos greatly extend the Mexican season for Higueral customers.
Higueral ships the “Del Rio” mango brand and for vegetables, the “Villanos” and “Higueral” brands.