For the first 30 years or so of its 45-year existence, Sandia Distributors Inc. in Nogales, AZ, focused almost entirely on watermelons and hard shell squash. But that changed when some of the growers who had been with Sandia for many years decided to expand into different items. William (Bill) Spence, sales manager, who has been with the company 15 years and was hired about the time the transition began, told The Produce News a few years back that Sandia was no longer just a watermelon house but had expanded into a variety of products that were now among its core items.

The 2013-14 program for the Nogales, AZ, operation of Santa Paula, CA-based Calavo Growers Inc. is similar to what it has been the last couple of years, focusing on tomato products out of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, according to Salesman Marc Mendivil.

Sales will be handled by Mendivil and Daniella (Dani) Saenz, who have both been with the company for several years. Javier (J.J.) Badillo, who previously managed Calavo’s Nogales operation, has left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Water polo may not be a big thing in many parts of the country, but it is in much of California, including in the Central Valley, according to Joe Bernardi, president of Nogales, AZ-based Bernardi & Associates Inc. which has an office in Turlock, CA.

“We are helping to promote a high school seniors all-star water polo game up here in the Central Valley,” he said. “It includes high school kids from Modesto all the way down to Merced. We have been fortunate enough to get the cooperation and support from quite a few of the produce companies in the valley here.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of IPR Fresh in Nogales, AZ. It is also the fourth season that the company, which was started as a produce broker and consolidator, has also had a major shipping deal.

“Our main offerings are hothouse bell peppers,” said President Jose Luis Obregon. “We are a shipper of bells, then we consolidate the rest of the deal,” procuring from the various produce houses in Nogales.

Greenpoint Distributing LLC. in Nogales, AZ, has an increase in Roma tomatoes and a new watermelon and honeydew melon deal this season; otherwise, the company’s programs are very similar to what they were last year, according to Sales Director Rick Burkett.

Wholsum Harvest, a Nogales-based organic grower and shipper of West Mexico and Arizona’s most popular winter vegetable items, is now implementing Fair Trade certified organic produce.

Fair Trade certified’s mantra is focused on compensation and safe working conditions for every Wholsum Harvest grower.

Its commitment to fair trade, fair labor practices, equitable compensation and environmental sustainability has earned Wholesum Harvest a Fair Trade certification by Fair Trade USA — the country’s leading third-party fair trade certifier.