Lone Star Citrus looking forward to bright future
Lone Star Citrus looking forward to bright future
It's been little more than half a year since Lone Star Citrus Growers in Mission, TX, broke ground for its new 120,000-square-foot packing facility, and business partners Jud Flowers, Trent Bishop and T.J. Flowers are really upbeat about future prospects.
Jud Flowers is the company's president, Mr. Bishop is vice president and sales manager, and T.J. Flowers serves as assistant sales manager and transportation specialist. They are joined by Susie Marroquin who serves as the company's controller. These four individuals bring 74 years worth of experience in the citrus industry to the table.
"A core group of us decided to get together and fulfill our dream," Mr. Bishop told The Produce News.
He said that the company is currently focusing on Texas grapefruit and oranges, with the lion's share of product being supplied through outside growers. Lone Star has business relationships with a good grower base in the Rio Grande Valley.
According to Mr. Bishop, grower operations are located in an area 70 miles long and 30 miles wide around McAllen, TX. "The packing plant is pretty central to growers," he said, adding that many are located within 10 miles of the facility.
"Jud is a very, very hands-on president," Mr. Bishop said. "I think it's fair to say we'll be a substantial player in the Texas industry. We enjoy great grower support."
Marketing for grapefruit and oranges takes place between Oct. 1 and May 10. Lone Star is located approximately 20 miles from the Mexican border, and Mr. Bishop said that Mexican lemons and tangerines are imported between August and February.
"[Our marketing window] closely resembles the children's school year," he went on to say.
Grapefruit is marketed under the "Texas Red" label, and oranges are marketed under the "Texas Sweetie" label. Both of these labels, Mr. Bishop said, have a Western flavor. Additionally, the company does private labeling for its customers.
The new operation has been designed to accommodate state-of-the-art development for the future. "Food safety will be a key with the design of the facility," Mr. Bishop stated. "Facility infrastructure is broader than technology [currently] allows."
The entire facility is wireless. "Inventory will be real-time updated as it is packed," Mr. Bishop said. The design will facilitate radio frequency identification upgrades and is wired with Category 6 cables.
Lone Star currently has 20 full-time employees. At the height of operation, Mr. Bishop said, the firm would employ approximately 160 people.
The McAllen area has a high unemployment rate, and Mr. Bishop said that the company has also been successful in securing day laborers from Mexico due to its proximity to the border.
"We haven't had any labor issues," Mr. Bishop stated. "We've had a ready supply of labor."
According to Mr. Bishop, 90 percent of product marketing will focus on the United States and Canada. "We will do some exports to the Far East," he added.
Mr. Bishop is excited about the prospects for commodity line expansion. "We see innumerable opportunities out of Mexico," he said.
Although 80 percent of Lone Star customers arrange their own transportation, Mr. Bishop said that T.J. Flowers handles logistics for the balance of the company's clientele.
Jud Flowers is the company's president, Mr. Bishop is vice president and sales manager, and T.J. Flowers serves as assistant sales manager and transportation specialist. They are joined by Susie Marroquin who serves as the company's controller. These four individuals bring 74 years worth of experience in the citrus industry to the table.
"A core group of us decided to get together and fulfill our dream," Mr. Bishop told The Produce News.
He said that the company is currently focusing on Texas grapefruit and oranges, with the lion's share of product being supplied through outside growers. Lone Star has business relationships with a good grower base in the Rio Grande Valley.
According to Mr. Bishop, grower operations are located in an area 70 miles long and 30 miles wide around McAllen, TX. "The packing plant is pretty central to growers," he said, adding that many are located within 10 miles of the facility.
"Jud is a very, very hands-on president," Mr. Bishop said. "I think it's fair to say we'll be a substantial player in the Texas industry. We enjoy great grower support."
Marketing for grapefruit and oranges takes place between Oct. 1 and May 10. Lone Star is located approximately 20 miles from the Mexican border, and Mr. Bishop said that Mexican lemons and tangerines are imported between August and February.
"[Our marketing window] closely resembles the children's school year," he went on to say.
Grapefruit is marketed under the "Texas Red" label, and oranges are marketed under the "Texas Sweetie" label. Both of these labels, Mr. Bishop said, have a Western flavor. Additionally, the company does private labeling for its customers.
The new operation has been designed to accommodate state-of-the-art development for the future. "Food safety will be a key with the design of the facility," Mr. Bishop stated. "Facility infrastructure is broader than technology [currently] allows."
The entire facility is wireless. "Inventory will be real-time updated as it is packed," Mr. Bishop said. The design will facilitate radio frequency identification upgrades and is wired with Category 6 cables.
Lone Star currently has 20 full-time employees. At the height of operation, Mr. Bishop said, the firm would employ approximately 160 people.
The McAllen area has a high unemployment rate, and Mr. Bishop said that the company has also been successful in securing day laborers from Mexico due to its proximity to the border.
"We haven't had any labor issues," Mr. Bishop stated. "We've had a ready supply of labor."
According to Mr. Bishop, 90 percent of product marketing will focus on the United States and Canada. "We will do some exports to the Far East," he added.
Mr. Bishop is excited about the prospects for commodity line expansion. "We see innumerable opportunities out of Mexico," he said.
Although 80 percent of Lone Star customers arrange their own transportation, Mr. Bishop said that T.J. Flowers handles logistics for the balance of the company's clientele.
