Big Y's local produce sales jump to $15 million
Throughout southern New England, local farms are a big part of the fabric of the region. Big Y World Class Markets, which operates 63 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, purchased over $15 million worth of native fruits and vegetables from local growers this past season, a $1 million increase in purchases from last year. The company also added more than 10 new farms — bringing its total up to 60.
Grower Alliance shipping watermelons year-round
Grower Alliance, LLC will at least double the volume of its organic vegetable deal this fall, according to Jorge Quintero, Jr., managing partner. The organic program “will be up and running in the first week of December,” with squash, Romas, eggplant, cucumbers and green beans leading the organic offerings.
Quintero added that all of Culiacan’s crops will be shipped in full volume this December. Green beans, colored bell peppers, Roma tomatoes, Euro-cucumbers, zucchini and yellow straight squash are among the largest Grower Alliance offerings this winter.
Maldonado flies to Colima amid Hurricane Patricia
As Hurricane Patricia, one of the strongest hurricanes ever witnessed, bore down on his grower’s staked Roma planting in Colima, Emilio Maldonado chose to fly there, rather than to the PMA convention in Atlanta.
Rains lower early watermelon volume for Big Chuy
Rains in Sonora and Jalisco earlier this fall have lowered Mexico’s watermelon volume. Jesus “Chuy” Lopez, Jr., the general manager of Big Chuy Distributors & Sons, Inc. in Nogales, added, “We have not had the same volume as the last couple of years.”
But reduced supply was leading to a strong mid-November market in the range of 24 to 25 cents per pound. “There is still decent movement.”
Big Chuy Distributors ships watermelons 12 months a year. The firm’s watermelon volume will show a “significant increase in March and April.”
One-time school principal gracefully runs international seed company
Sabrina Hallman was contentedly following her career path as a school principal in Tucson. She had been in education for 27 years.
An hour to the south in Nogales, her father, Rodney Hallman, who was retired military, owned and successfully operated Sierra Seed Co. LLLP, which he had founded in 1989. Sierra sells to Mexican growers the seed bred by various seed companies.
In 2007, she suddenly received a phone call that her father was suffering from dementia. Beyond the human tragedy, the company needed a leader. The employees asked her to run the company.
Vision Cos. expands exposure in Nogales with move to larger warehouse
“The Vision Cos. have expanded its exposure in Nogales this season by moving into a larger warehouse to accommodate our increasing grower direct deals,” said Donald Souther, vice president of marketing and sales development for the Vision Cos.
Veg sales increasing in percentage for Thomas Produce
Tomatoes have traditionally been the largest-volume Mexican item for Thomas Produce Sales, Inc., according to owner Chuck Thomas. The firm is based in Rio Rico, AZ.
But vegetables are gaining in the firm’s sales percentages because of the tomato suspension agreement, he said. Thomas Produce customers tend to be located from East Texas into the Southeast and up to New York. Thus, his tomato deal runs into the teeth of Florida tomato competition.
“We’ve got to compete with Florida in the winter,” Thomas noted.
Specialty citrus key for healthy consumers and produce departments
During the winter months, shoppers are looking for citrus fruits to boost their immune systems and brighten up their meals. Frieda's Specialty Produce suggests that retailers take advantage of winter specialty citrus to give their shoppers more variety and liven up produce departments.
Arizona Sky capitalizing on Toronto roots
A produce family rooted in Toronto but transplanted to Rio Rico, AZ, uses its Toronto connection as a key to ongoing business success.
Family patriarch Frank Franzone on March 15 celebrated 60 years in the produce business. He moved his family to the Nogales area in 1995 and started Vibo Produce. The full service produce brokerage was renamed Arizona Sky Produce in 2010 by Franzone’s sons, Roberto Franzone and John Frank Franzone.
John Frank works from Toronto while Roberto now heads the Rio Rico office.
MAS continues fast track growth
Hurricane Patricia set back, by one week, the Colima honeydew harvest that was scheduled to be marketed by MAS Melons & Grapes, LLC, located here.
There is an irony in the schedule, because these melons were planted a week earlier than normal to push a late-December harvest, said Miguel (Miky) Suarez, who is the company’s 52-percent owner. “So, we’re back to normal in the first week of January.”