Kovacevich begins Dominican organic cherry tomatoes
Kovacevich begins Dominican organic cherry tomatoes
PHILADELPHIA -- Organic cherry tomatoes grown in the Dominican Republic are a new item in the marketing mix for T.M. Kovacevich International, here.
Fran Carfagno, who is managing that item for Kovacevich, said in a Nov. 16 interview that he expected the season's first tomatoes to arrive Nov. 22 by air. Container volumes were to begin arriving the first week of December at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia.
The company will receive between 50 and 70 containerloads of Dominican organic cherry tomatoes this year, with the deal expected to end in April. Mr. Carfagno said that there is very strong interest in organic produce from retailers in the Philadelphia and New York metropolitan areas.
Kovacevich was first involved with grower David Tulmore of Tamara Agro- Industrial in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a cantaloupe deal that ran for eight years. Mr. Tulmore worked in other countries for several years but last year was re-engaged in the Dominican Republic and shipped some trials of round and cherry tomatoes to Kovacevich. Along the way, Mr. Tulmore connected with Dominican growers with land that was certified organic, so all parties have made substantial commitments to cherry tomatoes.
The organic cherry tomatoes are grown in the field on trellises and also are coming from new greenhouses. To accommodate whitefly control regulations, the tomatoes cannot be grown in the open fields until after Oct. 15, so early production comes from greenhouses to enable the grower-exporters to meet the holiday demand in the United States.
The organic cherry tomatoes are packed under the "Tamara Tomato" brand in 12-count boxes of one-pint clamshells.
In October, Mr. Carfagno and Kovacevich President George Manos stayed at the country home of their friend Hip?lito Mejia. They first became acquainted with Mr. Mejia during the melon import days, when Mr. Mejia was in a 22- year term as the national minister of agriculture. At that time, Mr. Mejia worked with the Dominican government to cooperate in expediting melon exports.
Mr. Manos commented that early on, Mr. Mejia recognized the importance of the Dominican Republic reducing its reliance on sugar cane exports and diversifying to other agricultural products for export.
Mr. Mejia later was elected president of the Dominican Republic, and his term ended two years ago. Mr. Mejia grows 100 different varieties of mango trees on his property.
The Kovacevich executives commented that the roads and infrastructure of the Dominican Republic have "improved tremendously" in the last 20 years. "The highways go right to the ports and are very good," Mr. Carfagno said. Other important imports for Kovacevich are melons and butternut squash from Honduras.
The butternut squash, as well as some peppers and cucumbers, are exported by Tukan Agro Products S.R.L. in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This Honduran vegetable program will total about 20 or 30 containers for Kovacevich.
For 15 years, Kovacevich has imported melons from grower Miguel Molina in Choluteca, Honduras. Kovacevich imported 220 containers from Mr. Molina last season, receiving both cantaloupes and honeydews.
The melon deal will begin in December for Kovacevich, and Honduran product is received in Florida.
Fran Carfagno, who is managing that item for Kovacevich, said in a Nov. 16 interview that he expected the season's first tomatoes to arrive Nov. 22 by air. Container volumes were to begin arriving the first week of December at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia.
The company will receive between 50 and 70 containerloads of Dominican organic cherry tomatoes this year, with the deal expected to end in April. Mr. Carfagno said that there is very strong interest in organic produce from retailers in the Philadelphia and New York metropolitan areas.
Kovacevich was first involved with grower David Tulmore of Tamara Agro- Industrial in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a cantaloupe deal that ran for eight years. Mr. Tulmore worked in other countries for several years but last year was re-engaged in the Dominican Republic and shipped some trials of round and cherry tomatoes to Kovacevich. Along the way, Mr. Tulmore connected with Dominican growers with land that was certified organic, so all parties have made substantial commitments to cherry tomatoes.
The organic cherry tomatoes are grown in the field on trellises and also are coming from new greenhouses. To accommodate whitefly control regulations, the tomatoes cannot be grown in the open fields until after Oct. 15, so early production comes from greenhouses to enable the grower-exporters to meet the holiday demand in the United States.
The organic cherry tomatoes are packed under the "Tamara Tomato" brand in 12-count boxes of one-pint clamshells.
In October, Mr. Carfagno and Kovacevich President George Manos stayed at the country home of their friend Hip?lito Mejia. They first became acquainted with Mr. Mejia during the melon import days, when Mr. Mejia was in a 22- year term as the national minister of agriculture. At that time, Mr. Mejia worked with the Dominican government to cooperate in expediting melon exports.
Mr. Manos commented that early on, Mr. Mejia recognized the importance of the Dominican Republic reducing its reliance on sugar cane exports and diversifying to other agricultural products for export.
Mr. Mejia later was elected president of the Dominican Republic, and his term ended two years ago. Mr. Mejia grows 100 different varieties of mango trees on his property.
The Kovacevich executives commented that the roads and infrastructure of the Dominican Republic have "improved tremendously" in the last 20 years. "The highways go right to the ports and are very good," Mr. Carfagno said. Other important imports for Kovacevich are melons and butternut squash from Honduras.
The butternut squash, as well as some peppers and cucumbers, are exported by Tukan Agro Products S.R.L. in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This Honduran vegetable program will total about 20 or 30 containers for Kovacevich.
For 15 years, Kovacevich has imported melons from grower Miguel Molina in Choluteca, Honduras. Kovacevich imported 220 containers from Mr. Molina last season, receiving both cantaloupes and honeydews.
The melon deal will begin in December for Kovacevich, and Honduran product is received in Florida.
