Winter Garden Produce Inc. of Uvalde, TX, is heading into the heart of its cabbage and broccoli deal in excellent shape and plans to increase its focus on onions this season as well.

Though water worries led to a slight reduction in cabbage and broccoli production, “That’s not a bad thing,” said J Allen Carnes, whose grandfather D.C. Carnes started the family business in 1949 just outside of Uvalde in the southwest central part of the state known as the Winter Garden — the area that gave the family business its name.

J Allen Carnes (right) presents Ray Prewett with the Texas Vegetable Association’s Award of Merit at the 2011 Texas Citrus Conference. (Photo by Chip Carter)About 30 years ago, the family built a cotton gin, its first foray away from family farming. They are still majority owners in that business. That venture went so well the decision was made to incorporate Winter Garden Produce in 1992, buying an existing shed and going into the shipping business. After D.C. Carnes passed away in the mid-1990s, J Allen Carnes came back home and went into the business he now operates with his father, Eddy Carnes.

Less production of cabbage and broccoli in major growing areas could turn out to be a positive thing. “I’m hoping that helps the markets,” Mr. Carnes said. “Demand hasn’t been gangbusters, especially on cabbage. Georgia is in the same boat. We’re all our worst enemies.”

By that, Mr. Carnes means farmers are prone to play the hot hand, which often leads to overplanting and plummeting markets.

That is why “we try to do pretty much the same thing year in and year out,” Mr. Carnes said. “When you try to guess the markets you get hurt.”

Under Mr. Carnes’ leadership, Winter Garden has transferred much of its packing from the shed to the field. It is an experiment that began last season and proved successful enough for the company to begin a full transition this season.

“There is less handling of the crop, less exposure to risk and you ensure that the customer and eventually the consumer gets a safer, fresher product,” Mr. Carnes said. “Field packing gives wholesalers, retailers and consumers at least another two or three days or shelf life.”

Meanwhile, Texas continues to deal with water shortages — a major challenge to for most growers, water conservation is simply a way of life in Texas.

From a water supply standpoint, “We’re not in real good shape down here, not just for the immediate future but long term. I don’t see a whole lot of change in that. We understand water conservation more than most folks do,” Mr. Carnes said. That has led to innovation to stretch water supplies and keep crops thriving. “We don’t leave the water running when we brush our teeth, that’s for sure,” Mr. Carnes said.

Meanwhile, even with less production Winter Garden expects an excellent Texas vegetable season. “When you have all the external factors to consider — weather, input prices going up — you’ve definitely got to be mindful of managing the crop,” Mr. Carnes said. But “we’ve got stuff in the ground and we’re harvesting now.”