Latin America

Who’s to blame for Florida's market decline? FPAA reacts to petition from lawmakers

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:32:44 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas rebuffs a recent bipartisan petition for an investigation into possible restrictions on agricultural exports from Mexico, saying the request is “all politics and ignores the facts.”

The petition, led by Sens. Marco Rubio and Al Lawson of Florida and signed by 24 lawmakers, was released last week by Rubio’s office, according to a news release. The petition calls for U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai to protect Florida growers from unfair trade practices by Mexico and requests an investigation into possible new import restrictions to Mexican agricultural products, under Section 301 of U.S. trade law.

In short, the letter claims Florida’s market share continues to decline because of predatory Mexican trade policies, weakening Florida’s agricultural industry over the course of 20 years.

“The Biden administration has affirmed its intention to protect and reinvigorate critical supply chains within the U.S., including agricultural supply chains. Mexico’s export targeting scheme, which is affecting U.S.-grown produce during the winter and spring months, is a direct threat to this objective,” signatories said, according to the release.

The lawmakers go on to claim that Mexican import strategy has successfully waged a “scheme to displace Florida’s seasonal and perishable agricultural industry from the U.S. market” and represents “an unreasonable trade practice that constitutes export targeting, threatens Florida’s seasonal and perishable agricultural industry, [and] endangers the long-term food security of the U.S.,” according to the release.

Replying to these accusations, the FPAA cites midterm elections as the likely motive for the petition and goes on further, saying lawmakers seek to “foment political discord, undermine the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and negatively impact consumers,” according to the press release.

Furthermore, the FPAA contends that the cause of Florida’s agricultural market share loss is not a result of unfair trade practices by Mexico but, instead, a result of slowed technical advances in the Sunshine State, including the failed widespread adoption of produce grown inside season-extending protective structures such as greenhouses, due to humidity and extreme weather events.

“A real reason Florida’s producers continue to lose market share is because they fail to innovate in new varieties and growing technologies, and consumers have spoken at the supermarket,” Lance Jungmeyer, president of the FPAA, said in the release. “Florida and U.S. companies importing from Mexico have competed for generations during the winter and spring months, and that is not going to change. You can count on that. You can also count on the fact that every election cycle, Florida politicians will dredge up the same tired complaints, which ignore the market dynamics.”

According to the FPAA, Mexico represents 39% of all imported fruits and vegetables consumed in North America annually.

Tacos, anyone? Avocados From Mexico wants consumers to remember the guacamole

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 20:48:33 GMT

Avocado toast has earned breakfast-of-champions status for millennials but, surprisingly, avocados won’t be found on most American’s tacos.

As a native Texan, raised on a steady diet of pico, guacamole, chips and tacos, it was surprising for The Packer’s Kristin Leigh Lore to learn that while tacos are the most popular Mexican food in the U.S., most eaters only include avocados on their tacos a small fraction of the time – less than 2% of all tacos, to be exact.

This fall, Avocados From Mexico is working to make sure avocado’s fiery twin, guacamole, isn’t stuck on the sidelines. As a part of its new “Guac N’ Tacos” shopper program, running from National Guacamole Day, Sept. 5, through National Taco Day, Oct. 9, AFM shares festive guacamole inspiration with taco-loving shoppers through in-store and digital activations.

AFM’s digital engagement even includes a month long, cross-country road trip with chef Pati Jinich, where she uncovers regionally inspired tacos and guacamole pairings along with her favorite recipes, ranging from classic taco and guacamole favorites to inventive spins on the pairing, according to the press release.

The Packer recently met with AFM’s Vice President of Shopper and Trade Marketing and Packer 25 2021 recipient Stephanie Bazan to learn more about avocados and how she plans to celebrate National Guacamole Day.

How do you plan on celebrating National Guacamole Day on Sept. 16?

Bazan: I plan on celebrating with friends and family, and of course Guac ‘N Tacos!

Which taco and guacamole combination are you most excited about on AFM’s taco truck tour?

There are so many to choose from, but I’d say I’m most excited about the Avo Lobster Roll Tacos from Boston — no other pair can compare to avocado chunks and lobster in a taco!

What’s one surprising fact about avocados that our readers might not already know?

They are truly a super food. Avocados From Mexico contribute good fats and nearly 20 vitamins and minerals to your diet — and they taste great which is #alwaysgood . Additionally, speeding up the ripening process of an avocado is actually very simple. If you have a super hard and unripe avocado, an incredibly easy way to quickly ripen it is to place it in an enclosed brown paper bag for up 1-3 days, and just like that, you’ll have yourself a ready-to-eat avocado.

What is your favorite avocado growing region and what makes it so unique?

The Michoacán region meets the ideal conditions for producing and harvesting the freshest avocados year-round, with its rich volcanic soil, natural irrigation, and unique topography. Now, combined with Jalisco’s summer crop, the opportunity for high-quality Mexican avocados to reach U.S. consumers’ table will be even stronger.

What is your favorite taco and guacamole pairing?

There are so many great combinations of guac and tacos, it’s hard to decide. If I had to pick just one, it would be a classic guac piled high on top of traditional Chicken Al Pastor Tacos — the perfect pairing of the cilantro/lime from the guac with the citrusy, savory sweetness of the tacos. And to make the tacos even better, I’ll pair them with an AvoRita ( Avocado Margarita ).

You can find out more about the month-long tour and all the Guac N’ Taco stops by visiting https://avocadosfrommexico.com/tacos/ . Learn more about Stephanie Bazan in our 2021 Packer 25 profile .

Latin America to see continued fresh produce growth

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:42:35 GMT

More growth opportunities are dead ahead for Latin American fruit and vegetable growers, according to a new 3 26-page report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

The report, giving the outlook for 2019-2028, said there are “strong growth opportunities” in the Latin America region to produce high-value fruits and vegetables. That trend, according to the report, will help provide better opportunities for small land holders.

Since 2000, the report said fruits and vegetables gained considerable importance in Central America, Mexico and Chile.

Research by INIA, Chile’s chief agricultural research institution, has contributed to a 1,000% increase in nut exports from 2001-2011 and a big increase in blueberry output. “From being practically an unknown fruit to farmers only two decades ago, today Chile is an important blueberry producer and exporter in the Southern hemisphere,” the report said.

U.S. trade statistics show that Chilean berry exports to the U.S. (excluding strawberries) rose from about $19 million in 2000 to $465 million in 2018.

Future growth

The report said Latin American and Caribbean production of fruits and vegetables have grown considerably in the last few decades, with most volume of exports bound for the U.S. and Canada. Free trade agreements have spurred that growth, according to the report.

In addition to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. has the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and separate trade agreements with Chile, Colombia, Panama and Peru.

While Mexico has traditionally been the main fruit and vegetable supplier to the U.S., the report said Central American countries and Chile have played an increasingly important roles in the U.S winter fruit and vegetable market.

For example, USDA trade statistics show that U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Central America more than tripled from 2000 to 2018, rising from $920 million in 2000 to $2.94 billion in 2018.

Likewise, U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from South America more than tripled from $1.27 billion in 2000 to $4.37 billion in 2018.

U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico from 2000-2018 grew at an even faster clip, rising from $2.04 billion in 2000 to $12.1 billion in 2018.

In 2017, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala and Costa Rica accounted for 75.4% of U.S. total fresh vegetable imports, according to the report.

For fresh fruits, the report said nine Latin American countries represented 92.3% of total U.S imports, led by Mexico, Chile, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Over the past two decades, harvested area of fruits and vegetables in Mexico increased 26.2% to 4.6 million acres. That compares with increases of 42.2% in Chile and 45.8% in Central America.

“The region’s traditional fruit and vegetable production and exports (Mexican tomatoes and avocados, Chilean grapes and peaches, Central American bananas and pineapples, for example) have risen considerably and have expanded to include, for example, Chilean cherries and cranberries; Central American chillies and peppers, and eggplant; and Mexican blueberries and raspberries,” the report said.

Reflecting favorable weather and labor conditions, Latin American and Caribbean countries may continue to enjoy a comparative advantage in fruit and vegetable production in the future, according to the report. That could be further strengthened by improving storage technology, infrastructure and production practices, according to the report.

Looking ahead, the report said that global population growth and improvements in per capita incomes will help fuel a 1.4% annual growth rate for bananas and tropical fruit in Latin America and the Caribbean over the next ten years. Bananas will account for about half of tropical fruit output, according to the report. Exports will grow at an even faster rate.

“Preference changes towards higher consumption of tropical fruits in developed regions, particularly in the case of avocado, should meanwhile stimulate a further expansion in trade,” the report said. The report said banana and tropical fruit exports from Latin American and the Caribbean are projected to grow at 1.7% annually between 2019 and 2028.

“Latin America/the Caribbean will continue to be the main source of global supplies in bananas and tropical fruits, with its share in global trade projected to remain close to 80% by 2028,” the report said.

Fair trade produce sales soaring

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:17:50 GMT

As more produce is offered with a fair trade label and more consumer seek it out, sales are greatly increasing, with Fair Trade USA reporting a 30% jump in 2018.

Fair Trade USA. which certifies fair trade products in North America, showcased the growing variety of fresh produce in the programs at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit expo Oct. 18-19 in Anaheim, Calif.

Fresh produce joining the fair trade ranks in 2018 were:

Lemons and limes from Mexico;
Papayas from Mexico;
Mangoes from Brazil;
Artichokes from the U.S.;
Brussels sprouts from the U.S.;
Grapes from the U.S.; and
Blueberries from the U.S. and Canada.

Fair trade certified produce sold in 2018 raised nearly $8 million in Community Development Funds, according to a Fair Trade USA news release.

“It’s not just issues on the farm, there are structural deficiencies in Baja,” John Erb, vice president of social and environmental impact at Driscoll’s , said in the release. “Bringing that extra (fair trade) premium to workers to help address some of those community issues is more than we could do from just implementing our own standards on the ranches.”

Fair Trade USA coordinated four regional training workshops in Latin America to train the growers new to the program. There are more than 200 growers from nine countries in the program, which is in its fourth year, according to the release.

The fair trade program provides a “framework through the application of the Agricultural Production Standard that helps farms meet and exceed the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh’s Ethical Charter ,” according to the release.

“We continue to be encouraged by the brands and retailers that are dramatically increasing their support for farmworkers through fair trade certification,” Nathalie Marin-Gest, head of fresh goods at Fair Trade USA, said in the release. “They have realized that it’s more than just a (Corporate Social Responsibility) move, it’s an important investment in their infrastructure and supply chains, further supporting farms in their efforts to retain and attract employees.”

Related stories:

Fair Trade USA Fresh Connections

Driscoll’s expands Fair Trade program in Mexico

Mango shipper Freska sees Fair Trade benefits

Fyffes delivers report on first-year impacts of Honduran melon strategy

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 13:22:23 GMT

Tropical produce importer and distributor Fyffes published the first-year results of its Honduran melon business transformation plan. This new strategy demonstrates Fyffes’ commitment to a more responsible and ethical melon business in Honduras.

Changes outlined in the report benefit more than 5,000 employees and temporary workers, as well as local communities, according to a news release.

“We are pleased with the progress that has been made in the last 12 months,” Genivaldo Pereira, new general manager for Sol Group, said in the release. “Without a doubt, this is the beginning of a process of continuous improvement in which we are totally committed, not only to continue strengthening our sustainability strategy, but also to promote and strengthen the commercial and economic opportunity for Hondurans in the communities that surround our farms.”

A new melon strategy in Honduras

In late 2021, new local management was hired at Sol Group, a subsidiary of Fyffes. Additionally, management expanded to include operations, compliance, human resources, sustainability, and labor and farm relations. With the support of Fyffes’ executive leadership, this new management team is leading a transformation strategy in Honduras to improve working conditions, environmental management, community development initiatives and corporate governance, the release said.

In the past year, notable changes to the Honduran melon business at Fyffes and Sol Group include, according to the press release:

Working condition improvements

Implemented risk assessments, analysis and standardized procedures to ensure worker safety, fairness and performance;
Invested in large-scale worker training and new operating procedures;
Provided correct personal protective equipment for all workers;
Eliminated the practice of hiring seasonal workers through foremen.;
Established a new hiring protocol with the supervision of a human resources department;
Disposed of 12,000 tons of plastic and agricultural waste accumulated on farms; and
Participated in an external evaluation with the Honduran Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Social security investments

Partnered with unions to pay temporary workers a bonus of approximately 80% of the Honduran social security payment;
Launched community medical brigades to provide off-season medical care to 1,000 people from 15 communities;
Maintained five medical clinics on or near company farms; and
Offered off-season opportunities to temporary workers through a corn growing program.

Community development

Completed an assessment of Choluteca to identify community investment needs and priorities;
As a result, several major community investment projects were initiated in 2022, including:
- Fyffes Gender Equality Program, with over 1000 workers completing the program;
- A school donation project benefitting 138 families;
- A corn cultivation and food security project benefiting 202 families; and
- A protective equipment and COVID-19 training program for schoolchildren.

Freedom of association updates

Confirmed a union at each of Sol Group’s melon farms in Choluteca, with the majority of employees and temporary workers represented by the unions;
In April 2022, the unions elected new boards of directors, responding to feedback from the international labor rights movement, ensuring that the boards comply with both Honduran labor law and International Labor Organization conventions.
Facilitated trainings on Honduran labor legislation and ILO conventions by a labor expert to the new boards of the unions representing temporary and permanent workers.

Sun World expands, adding South American companies to roster

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 04:50:01 GMT

Bakersfield, Calif.-based global fruit breeding variety development and licensing company Sun World has added several new South American companies to its global licensed distributor roster.

“We are proud to welcome these grape producer-marketers to the Sun World community and pleased to expand our distribution channels to fulfill increasing market demand for Sun World’s leading table grape brands to be enjoyed by retailers and consumers worldwide,” Garth Swinburn, Sun World’s vice president of licensing, said in a news release.

The new marketers have been granted rights to distribute fruit from existing and future fruit varieties developed by Sun World and marketed under the company’s brands, such as Autumn Crisp, Midnight Beauty, Sable Seedless, Adora Seedless and Scarlotta Seedless.

The companies added include three newly licensed marketers in Brazil:

Agrobras
Coopexvale
Ebraz

Four newly licensed marketers in Chile:

Agrofruta
Chilfresh
Frutícola
Exportadora Atacama Ltd and Greenvic

Three newly licensed marketers in Peru:

EL Pedregal
Corporacion Agrolatina
MIGIVA Group

About the companies

Agrobras is a family-owned company founded in 1986, with production areas located in Casa Nova, Juazeiro and Petrolina, Brazil. The company’s operations are spread over 930 hectares, of which 700 hectares are mangoes and 230 hectares are table grapes. Agrobas supples both the domestic and international market.

Coopexvale, founded in 2000, is one of Brazil’s main grape cooperatives, made up of approximately 21 grape growers. The company has a strong presence in the Brazilian domestic market, supplying table grapes to 23 states and exporting to international markets including, Germany, Netherland, England, Scandinavia, United States, Canada, Argentina and Uruguay.

Ebraz started as a trading company in 1989 and commenced its farming operations in 1992. Thirty-three years of hard work and continuous investments in new varieties have made Ebraz an important grower-packer-exporter of Brazilian fresh fruits. Their mango and grape farms are grown over more than 1,300 hectares.

Agrofruta was founded in 1986 with the idea to grow, pack and ship its own fruit, with the strong support and commitment of its internal production team. Since then, Agrofruta has grown over 1,800 hectares spread across 11 farms from Copiapo in the North, and through the Chilean Central Valley from San Felipe down to San Javier. Their production currently provides an assortment of fresh fruits that include, table grapes, cherries, apples, pears, kiwis, blueberries and walnuts.

Chilfresh was formed in 1993 with the objective to assist growers and importers alike to achieve better results. It started as a part-time job and a one-man-show, working from an apartment in Santiago. Today the company consists of a team of dedicated professionals, a first-rate supply base of growers and exporters in Chile, Peru and Argentina and a loyal and trustworthy customer base in Asia supplying various fruits including flowers, grapes, avocados, cherries, kiwis, plums, apples, blueberries and more.

Frutícola & Exportadora Atacama Ltd. was created in 1983. Their grape, citrus and avocado plantation is spread over 1,800 hectares. The company’s partnership with leading genetic programs diversifies their portfolio offering of leading grape, citrus and avocado varieties to the domestic and international market.

Greenvic has been committed to produce and export the finest organic fruits for over 30 years. Tracing its roots to the rural farmlands of Chile, operations have since grown to include a strong international presence in the produce industry.

El Pedregal is a 26-year old fruit company, specializing in table grapes, with the mission to grow and deliver unique and fresh fruit to our customers around the world.

Corporacion Agrolatina has been recognized in the fresh fruit market as one of the leading growers of grapes, avocados and pomegranates from Peru. Its table grape farms stretch across more than 850 hectares, hosting 13 table grape varieties available from November to February. These varieties are exported to more than 16 countries spread across the major markets.

MIGIVA Group is a business group of diversified companies operating in Peru. The group provides products and services to national and international markets.

How to sell produce from Central America, the Caribbean

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:04:26 GMT

Because of their proximity and similar climates, Central America and the Caribbean islands grow many of the same fruits and vegetables, which largely fall into two groups: roots, like yucca and malanga; and tropical fruits, including mangoes, limes, papaya, avocado and pineapple.

J&C Tropicals in Doral, Fla., distributes calabazas, yucca, malanga, mangoes, rambutan and papaya from Central America — mostly Costa Rica — and mostly avocados and mangoes from the Caribbean.

Most of the roots are available year-round, while the fruits are more seasonal, though by sourcing from different countries, J&C Tropicals can provide a steady supply. Rambutan, for example, is available from May to September from Guatemala, and from September to January from Honduras.

The company distributes the products on the East Coast — mostly as far north as New York and as far west as Texas — largely to conventional grocery stores.

New Limeco’s main business is in limes, papayas and green-skin avocados. The company imports roots from Central America, primarily Costa Rica and Honduras; papayas come from Guatemala and Mexico, limes come from Honduras and Mexico, and avocados come from the Dominican Republic.

The company offers around 30 varieties of avocados “but now, because of hurricanes and people grafting Florida avocados that yield more fruit, we have fewer varieties than we used to,” said Eddie Caram, general manager of the Princeton, Fla.-based company. The green-skinned avocados, he says, are a little more water-based but just as rich and healthy as those with more oil.

However, roots — mostly yucca and malanga — are becoming more popular everywhere, Caram says, both in restaurants and fresh or frozen from grocery stores.

“There are more nationalities in the U.S. and more people wanting to try different things, and people watch The Food Channel,” he said. “For roots, there’s a bigger market with the wholesalers and some smaller ethnic or local stores. They’re not as hard to sell; they’re popular right now.” He said he expects to see the frozen side of this business grow the fastest.

The big seller for Caribbean Gold Inc., Doral, Fla., is dragon fruit, especially the red-skinned variety with white flesh, says Rena Mashav, director of sales and marketing. “We sell large quantities of dragon fruit,” she said, “and what’s happening in Ecuador is amazing — they have red-skinned, yellow-skinned.”

Caribbean Gold brings the dragon fruit to Florida by air and sea. Mashav says it has a long shelf life, which is good news for retailers and consumers. Publix, for example, has it on shelves year-round, she said.

Terra Produce is the U.S. arm of Colombia-based Terra Trading, which imports limes, oranges, avocado, plantains and yams, “and we’re always working on new commodities,” said Camilo Herrera, business development manager. He said that the company will add three varieties of mangoes in the near future.

Herrera works with wholesalers and distributors to send around 60% of produce along the East Coast and the remainder to Florida. Looking ahead, he’ll approach foodservice companies and is looking to sell directly to retailers in the next three to four years.

Morton Williams Supermarkets, Bronx, N.Y., sells mangoes, pineapples and papayas — mostly cut up and in cups — fairly consistently. “In Manhattan, people don’t have any time, and often it’s for immediate consumption,” said Marc Goldman, director of produce and floral.

There also are some more exotic fruits like dragon fruit and jackfruit. “We have a couple of stores that can’t sell the dragon fruit whole, but we put it in slices in fruit cups and then it sells,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know what to do with it.”

Working with retailers

Typically, supermarkets should merchandise tropical products together, says Denise Gomez, marketing lead with J&C Tropicals. To help with sales, the company can send a staff member to assist with merchandising, or it can provide diagrams. The company also offers bin programs “so retailers can set them up in front of their store, especially if it’s a product they don’t usually sell, and we send them POS and educational materials to catch eyes as people are coming in,” Gomez said.

It’s important to draw attention to these products, she said, because shoppers often have never heard of them. “But this catches their eyes, and they stop and look and touch,” she added.

J&C Tropicals also provides recipe cards, nutritional information and details about how to prepare and cook the fruits and roots. QR codes placed on some packaging labels and on bins will send consumers back to the company’s website for more information.

“Consumers use those QR codes a lot, and retailers prefer everything digital nowadays,” Gomez said.

New Limeco used to offer sampling, which helped sales, because it introduced something unfamiliar to many customers, Caram said; however, the company hasn’t resumed the practice yet, post-pandemic. Caram works with retailers to run weekly advertisements, and the company’s boxes are branded, which gets the name out if items are merchandised in them, he said.

Instead of providing recipe cards, New Limeco features them on social media, especially Instagram, as that’s where shoppers look, Caram said.

Terra Produce doesn’t offer any merchandising support yet, but all of its boxes are branded and product is sold directly out of them. Herrara said he expects to start bagging the produce in the next year, which “will create a recognition of quality.”

Customers

Central American and Caribbean produce largely resonates with natives from those regions, Gomez says.

“That’s our main audience but at the same time we get millennials, moms trying to find something healthy for their kids,” she said.

Both avocado and dragon fruit also have become more mainstream, she adds, especially with millennials. Mangoes, however, are popular with all shoppers since they’re so well known.

Caribbean Gold’s produce mostly sells to Central American, Caribbean and Asian customers, so Mashav said she doesn’t provide a lot of information “because they already know what to do with it.”

Caram says New Limeco’s products sell to just about anyone.

“Americans are trying to eat better in the past 10 years and are experimenting and getting educated on healthier options,” he said.

Challenges

The biggest challenge, Gomez says, is distributing produce that deteriorates so quickly.

“We have to keep it as fresh as possible for the retailer, because they can reject it if they see just one little spot,” she said.

For Terra Produce, the biggest challenge is getting Colombian products accepted to the U.S. market. Limes, Herrera says, are well regarded, but avocados are trickier. Colombia, in some cases, is still determining the best times and means of harvesting, he said.

Colombia is learning, he says, “but they also have to compete against the Mexican pricing.” The company plans to start by filling the seasonal gaps in Mexico avocado production. “That’s when the opportunity for Colombia avocados is going to be,” Herrera said.

Internationally sourced produce bolsters supply, provides variety of flavors

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:12:37 GMT

Lots of produce sold in the U.S. comes here from beyond our shores.

Fruit and vegetables, from the common — sugar snap peas, baby carrots, melons — to the lesser known — star fruit, Buddha’s hand, pomelo, are sourced internationally, though largely that means Central and South America.

Southern Specialties of Pompano Beach, Fla., began importing produce from Guatemala 32 years ago, and it now imports from other Central and South American countries, as well as Canada. Working with different countries allows the company to offer produce year-round, said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development.

“We look for growing conditions that are perfect for certain products. Guatemala has different elevations and growing conditions, so you can move around the country,” he said. “Same in Peru and Mexico, where we grow in multiple regions.”

The company recently added the area of Jalisco, Mexico, to plug any gaps in the growing cycle, he adds.

Divine Flavor in Nogales, Ariz., sources 90% to 95% of its product from Mexico, with the remainder coming from South American countries such as Chile and Peru. The company sells more grapes than anything else, in more than 20 varieties, but it also does good business in bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and zucchini.

Miami-based Crystal Valley Foods sources produce from Central and South America. Asparagus comes from both Peru and Mexico.

“Peru is a key growing region because it has a variety of climates ideal for growing,” said Katiana Valdes, marketing director. “It can be grown in the north and south, and the two regions peak at different times. This allows us to import asparagus 52 weeks a year from Peru.”

The company is also a top importer from Guatemala, whose peak season mirrors Mexico’s for many items, allowing for continuous production.

Martha Montoya established Agtools in 2018 in Orange County, Calif., to provide data to people in the produce industry, from shippers to farmers to analysts, traders, CEOs and chief financial officers. She anticipates that Central America and Colombia are going to be a huge source of international produce going forward because of workers’ strong ethics and the philosophy of farming.

With the White House pushing for food insecurity solutions, she adds, “It’s deploying heavily in Central America, making multibillion dollar investments.” On top of that, those regions have great growing areas, she said.

Central America and Colombia also produce a huge variety of produce, she said, often from very small farms.

“Mexico will still be there, but overall [produce] consumption is up, so that’s why we need Central America,” she said, adding that efficiencies in Central America need to increase too.

Related News: Berry People expands Mexico footprint, opening second office in Guadalajara

Product mix

Southern Specialties’ biggest product is asparagus. Other popular items include Brussels sprouts, baby broccoli, papaya and avocados.

The company provides produce to white tablecloth restaurants in cities along the Atlantic Ocean, west to Texas and up to Minnesota and Canada. It also provides produce to retailers, club stores, foodservice distributors and wholesalers.

The products give restaurants a point of differentiation. The company peels baby carrots by hand, leaving half an inch of green top intact, and they are available in orange or a rainbow pack of four colors, which allows restaurants to nicely present dishes.

Divine Flavor focuses mostly on commodities, “and we have a lot of knowledge and experience in the land, the soil, the biodiversity of growing those products,” said Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator. “We consider ourselves pioneers in Mexico when it comes to producing candy-like varieties of grapes and having the ability to work with great breeders all over the world for fan-favorite types like Jellyberries and Cotton Candy and also newer ones like Autumncrisp and Sweet Globe.”

More than 50% of Divine Flavor’s product range is organic, and products that are not organic, have often been grown using organic processes, DuPuis said. The company wants to be responsible.

“As a farmer, you can produce in a way that’s commercially viable and you can do it in a way that’s beneficial to your land, your workforce,” he said. A lot of this is consumer-driven, he added, “and people are very conscientious about what they’re buying. Our DNA is growing organically, growing responsibility.”

Most produce imported by San Diego-based Specialty Produce comes from Mexico, which the company then sells to 1,000 restaurants stretching up to Los Angeles. Almost all (95%) of the produce is sold this way, and the remaining 5% is sold directly to consumers through the company’s warehouse in San Diego.

“We try to make fruit and vegetables entertaining,” said President Bob Harrington.

He sells a variety of produce from the warehouse, from navel chocolate oranges to Sharon fruit, and he trains staff to educate consumers about how to prepare and cook food and give background on the produce.

“We’re a destination and entertainment,” Harrington said.

He even has a social media spot in the warehouse for selfies, and the company is active on social media with thousands of followers. There’s also a mountain of information — from trends to articles — on Specialty Produce’s website.

For customers at the warehouse who want more information, each produce sign has a QR code that takes them to the company website.

Value-added extras

Southern Specialties offers its own value-added products under the brand Southern Selects and does good business in private-label packaging for other companies. This includes items such as an 8-ounce package of French beans that can be put as-is into a microwave, to larger 2-pound bags.

Value-added products continue to grow, Eagle said. The packaging displays the product well, he said, typically with a picture of the food as it would be seen in a recipe, with nutritional information, links to recipes, and more on the packaging.

“We create an extra layer of information that helps the consumer understand the product and offers different ways to prepare it,” he said.

Divine Flavor offers a retail-ready program, with presentations shipped “ready to be sold in retail the moment it’s brought in,” DuPuis said. “Our marketing team has made sure the product is marketed and sold the way it’s supposed to.”

On the shipping boxes, the company provides QR codes so consumers can get more details from the company’s website.

“It’s important to educate them on that and that you’re being respectful to the land and the people and growing organics,” DuPuis said.

Related news: Overcoming Chilean produce obstacles

Challenging times

For Southern Specialties, transportation has become a huge challenge in recent years amid rising fuel costs and labor shortages. Input costs have also gone up significantly, Eagle said — everything from fertilizers to plastic film and corrugated materials.

“Mother Nature has also played a large role recently with hurricanes, freezes and flooding all affecting crops and leading to lower supplies and higher costs,” he said.

However, the company has made investments in cold chain maintenance over the past year, as well as food safety efforts.

“So, from a food safety standpoint, we’re on par with, or better than, any of the farms and distribution facilities in the U.S.,” Eagle said.

For Divine Flavor, the high turnover rates in agriculture are a significant problem, especially as workers can constantly find new opportunities using their phones.

“You need to understand their wants and needs and the opportunity to grow in a company,” DuPuis said. “Sometimes the driver isn’t money but to be able to get back to their home communities.”