The Sykes Co., Rio Rico, Ariz., imports and distributes watermelons, mini watermelons, honeydew, and conventional and organic hard squash from its farms in Sonora.
The family-run business has been in operation since 1978.
This season, many farms in Sonora experienced rains during planting time, so supply is delayed and decreased overall, says Lesley Sykes, vice president of the company.
“Our organic program is an important part of our offerings,” she said, noting the company will carry organic butternut, spaghetti, and delicata squash this winter. The Sykes Co. also offers organic mini watermelons, which will wrap up at the end of November.
Mexican distributors are still experiencing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as well as a challenging economic situation, Sykes said. “Our marketing plan consists of continuing to communicate our quality offerings as well as the extra steps our farms take to grow food responsibly.”
Families in the U.S. are watching grocery spending carefully and inflation is taking a toll on certain items.
“There is less activity overall in Nogales right now compared with a year ago because buyers are only buying what they need and there is a decrease in volume due to production challenges,” she said. “This especially hurts items like squash, which are often mixed with other items on a truck.”
Challenges and optimism
Labor is an ongoing challenge that farms and distributors face across the U.S. and Mexico, Sykes said. “As areas like Michoacan develop more berry production, it attracts farmworkers from other growing regions,” she said. “In Nogales, we have experienced truck shortages the last couple of seasons, which limits our ability to ship products like watermelons.”
Still, Sykes said the long-term potential for Mexican conventional and organically grown crops is positive, as U.S. families will continue to seek out healthy and safe fresh produce for their families.
