A look at Rich River Produce's early start to Mexican produce season

The Mexican produce season started a little earlier than usual for Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Rich River Produce, says Edgar Duarte, who founded the company in 2018 with his wife, Karina Duarte.

“We were getting product here [this year] by about mid-October,” he said, noting that the deal has a usual start date in mid-November.

While volume started early, weather conditions have held up shipments in mid-November. Rain in October from tropical storms that hit Sinaloa and Sonora set production back one to two weeks, Duarte said.

“We’re seeing those effects right now,” he said in mid-November.

In addition to weather conditions, strong domestic demand in Mexico has limited exports, Duarte said.

The drought in Mexico over the past few months has caused some growers, especially grain farmers, to dial back acreage, Duarte said. In some Mexican communities, the need to reserve water for community needs has taken precedence over farming needs, he said.

Looking ahead to the winter season, Duarte said the drought may not have a big effect on vegetable growers since many of them have their own wells and aren’t affected by water allocations from reservoirs.

Duarte said Rich River Produce specializes in chili peppers and other hot pepper varieties. Besides hot peppers, the company also has good supplies of bell peppers, cucumbers and roma tomatoes, Duarte said.

The company works with eight to nine growers throughout Mexican winter growing regions.