Tricar ready to begin a more traditional spring
Rio Rico, AZ — “In town, in general, there will be a lot of volume later than normal. We will have big numbers in late April,” predicted Rod Sbragia, director of sales and marketing for Tricar Sales Inc. In typical springs, most Nogales distributors begin tapering off volume at that time, he added. “The start of this deal is completely atypical. This is my 30th year on a [sales] desk. I have never seen a year like this.”
IPR Fresh met early shortage and looks for expansion amid growth
“We are continually building accounts,” Jose Luis Obregon said of IPR Fresh. Obregon is the president of the family-owned business, based here in Rio Rico.
With Mexican vegetable supply challenges in the winter of 2015-16, it was a “tough” time to be aggressive in that expansion, he added. “So we laid low. We fulfilled our current customers and focused on that.”
But generally, beyond adding new customers, “our customers are growing as well. That helps us grow and we are constantly growing.
Hartmann creating Nogales produce folklore record
Tucson, AZ — For more than 100 years the fresh produce industry has been an integral story of the colorful link between Mexico and Nogales.
Folklorist Nic Hartmann is working with Southwest Folklife Alliance, which is affiliated with the University of Arizona, here in Tucson, as well as with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, based in Nogales, to document some of the industry’s heritage.
Fresh Farms expanding line and volume
“Our program continues to grow,” said Jerry Havel, the director of sales and marketing for Fresh Farms. “We will be up 20 percent on watermelons this spring. We have great quality and we always have more business. We try to feed our demand.”
Fresh Farms, based here, also offers organic green and yellow squash and has a new organic butternut and spaghetti line.
Lisa Inc. offering two-pound pickle bag
This spring, two-pound consumer bags of pickles, packed in the Seven L’s brand, are being offered to retailers by Lisa Inc.
John Lichter, Lisa’s sales manager, said the pickles are on the market from October to May.
Other key items Lisa ships are Romas from January to May and chili peppers from late December to May. Both are grown in shadehouses.
GreenPoint rolling out new programs
n rio rico, az — “We are excited about our new programs,” said Omar Losolla, director of sales and marketing for GreenPoint LLC, which is headquartered in Rio Rico.
Del Campo rolls out organic line
Tomato and red Bell pepper volumes are increasing for Del Campo Supreme Inc. Jimmy Munguia, the firm’s sales manager, said Jan. 19, “We’re a little behind last year’s volume. But it’s steadily increasing.
“We had a lot of product in the last month” and with Mexico’s weather warming into the 70s and 80s, volumes were expected to increase.
“Things have been good since June,” Munguia said. “The market has been favorable. The red Bell market has been good for at least nine months.”
With citrus veteran Stu Monaghan leading sales team, Seald Sweet poised to pursue growth opportunities
Seald Sweet International’s legacy stretches back over a century and is firmly grounded in Florida citrus, but today’s Seald Sweet is a diversified, year-round player in international citrus, grapes, apples and pears.
The company’s imported grape program is the latest big grower, increasing year over year and with an aggressive growth trajectory. Seald Sweet’s summer citrus program with international imports has also continued to grow annually for over 15 years since its inception in the U.S. market.
University of Georgia launches new awards program measuring sweetness for Vidalia onion growers
Vidalia, GA — Since the State of Georgia owns the trademark to the famous Vidalia onion, it only makes sense that the state university system — and especially the land-grant University of Georgia — would take an active role in promoting and promulgating that crop. UGA’s most recent innovation in that arena involves the establishment of two new awards for Vidalia onion growers, both presented at the annual Vidalia Onion Awards Banquet held here Feb. 6
The Vision Cos. to feature updated ‘Mojito’ brand lime packaging
The Vision Cos. is comprised of both Vision Import Group, headquartered in Hackensack, NJ, and Vision Produce Co., headquartered in Los Angeles.
The company will have a noted presence of executives at its booth, No. 509, at the 2016 Southern Exposure “Produce in Paradise” expo and conference on March 3-5 in Hollywood, FL.