In mid-November, Nogales, Ariz.-based EarthBlend was receiving a steady supply of Sonoran soft squash and cucumbers, and Sinaloa volume was about to kick in, says Steve Spence, director of sales.
Spence said EarthBlend will have promotable opportunities on green beans, soft squash (Italian, yellow and grey), hard-shell (butternut, spaghetti, acorn and kabocha), cucumbers (slicer, European and Persian), bell peppers (mini sweet peppers, green, red, yellow and orange) and hot peppers (jalapeno, serrano, poblano and Anaheim).
“This season we will have increased volume from the state of Sinaloa,” Spence said, noting consistent supplies on green beans, green bell peppers, cucumbers and hard-shell squash.
Spence said EarthBlend will have promotable opportunities on watermelon, honeydew and roma tomatoes in its spring season.
“It will be our first season to have steady supply on melons,” he said. “The past three seasons we have continued to increase our roma crop production, starting our harvest mid-April and finishing mid-June.”
EarthBlend will promote Mexican watermelon and honeydew from mid-March through the end of May, he said. “We will have a reliable program from start to finish.”
Packaging trends for the industry include value-added packaging and an emphasis on sustainability, he said.
“EarthBlend is always looking to partner with our customers,” Spence said. “We have the capabilities to pack in bags, tray packs and IQF.”
Spence said he is optimistic about this Mexican produce season for a number of reasons, including its dedication to quality and sustainability.
“EarthBlend is a fully vertically integrated company,” he said. “From the seed to the seedlings/grafted plants, to the growing at our farms and to the distribution; we are ‘Seeding Business Growth.’”
