The year 2020 will go in the record books as one of the toughest in memory, thanks to the COVID-19 virus, but it could turn out to be a profitable year for fresh produce in Colorado, grower-shippers say.

The year started off fine for The Fresh Guys, said president Peter Braidman. But then COVID-19 came along.

While vice president Mike Robertson said it’s pretty much business as usual for Lakewood, Colo.-based Pacific Shipping & Trading Co. Inc., he added, “I can’t say it’s totally normal.”

Honeyacre Enterprises Ltd. started its greenhouse program the second week of April with tomatoes and cucumbers and will begin shipping orange, red and yellow bell peppers in June.

A produce box program for consumers that Denver-based 5280 Produce launched about five years ago has exploded as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A year ago, Colo-Pac Produce completed a major cooler expansion that greatly increased its cold storage capacity.

Coosemans-Denver is offering Gourmet Premium Food Boxes that Garrick Macek, vice president of operations, expects will become more and more popular as consumers cope with COVID-19.

Big Sky Trading is expanding its organic offerings, said J.T. Pickett, general operations manager and organic produce buyer.

Alpine Summit Sales will have an extensive line of fruits and vegetables this summer, sourcing from varied growing areas including Colorado, California and Mexico.

The COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to be having a major impact on sales at Denver distributors, expect for the foodservice segment, but companies have implemented various preventive measures.