BYRON CENTER, MI — Van Solkema Produce Inc. this winter was involved for the first time in shipping produce from Nogales, AZ, one of several moves that enabled the company to double its sales volume in the last two years.

Todd Van Solkema, chief executive officer of the family business, expects to see sales increase by at least 20 percent this year.   

“We had a choice,” he said. “We could stop at four Van Solkema generations, or grow for generations to come.”

Talbert Nething, sales manager, shows overwrapped green Bell peppers in the repacking room of the Van Solkema Produce Inc.’s Byron Center, MI, facility.The move to Nogales, which involves consolidating loads at the Rio Rico, AZ, warehouse of Gemco Inc., solidly makes Van Solkema a 12-month vegetable supplier.

“That went well,” Van Solkema said. “It was very good.”

From Nogales, the firm received cucumbers, peppers, squash, eggplant, honeydew, seedless watermelon and cantaloupe. In the tomato category, Van Solkema marketed Mexican vine ripes, Romas and cherries.

“We handled everything to make this a one-stop shop,” Van Solkema said. “We take care of our customers 24/7/365. It makes for an interesting year.”

Van Solkema is also growing through more production and expanded varieties of southern vegetables, such as squash, zucchini, yellow and crooked neck squash. The firm handles hand-picked beans and “will start a little okra in Georgia.” It is enjoying new contracts to be a year-round retail supplier.

Van Solkema’s repacking facilities are also expanding to build company sales.

Van Solkema began shipping Vidalia onions on April 21. “The quality this year is very good for us,” Van Solkema said. “We waited until we had a good, firm, solid onion that had a very good appearance.”

Van Solkema will be shipping from six Georgia storage facilities that have a 115,000-bushel combined capacity. Vidalia onions will fill most of that space, but the company will keep 35,000 bushels open for vegetables.

From mid-August through January, the firm plans to receive sweet Peruvian onions through the Port of Savannah, GA.  

New this year, Van Solkema is working on a sweet onion deal in Texas and Mexico.  

Van Solkema was to begin shipping Michigan radishes around May 28. Squash is set to begin June 11 and Michigan cabbage “is two weeks late,” with an anticipated start of June 20-25.  

“Carrots are behind, too, because it’s been cool and raining,” he said. “We will start August 1, which is two weeks behind.”

Adam Blocker is a new salesman for the company this year. He will start the season by working in the Glennville, GA, office.