A processing/packing facility is opening by Church Brothers Farms and its processing company, True Leaf Farms. It is located just across the U.S. border in Mexico to increase year-round supplies.
The plant, in San Luis Rio Colo., south of Yuma, Ariz., will be growing whole leaf lettuce, broccoli florets, iceless broccoli and green onions with an opening anticipated by the end of the year.
The plant, at almost 111,000 square feet, will handle vegetables grown in Mexico and the U.S.
“The new facility will allow us to produce during the summer months, where in the past we were limited to only green onions and other seasonal items,” the company said in a news release. “Now we will be sourcing from Mexico year-round to meet our U.S. customers’ growing needs.”
The facility, known as CB Mexico, will be Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) certified, allowing trucks to enter the U.S. faster. CB Mexico is 29 miles south of Church Brothers’ two Yuma facilities.
Other U.S. companies with facilities in the area include Kenworth, Gulfstream and Honeywell.
Earth Blend
Agrocir, a Hermosillo, Sonora, has created a Nogales sales and distribution company. The vegetable grower has been in business since the mid-1960s. The new firm is EarthBlend LLC, which expects to handle almost 4 million cases of Mexican produce this season.
EarthBlend started shipping a variety of vegetables in the October to December timeframe, running into May. These vegetables include a wide variety of hard and soft squash, green Bells, elongated red Bells, tomatillos and a handful of hot pepper varieties.
In the fall and spring seasons, EarthBlend plans to ship seedless and mini-watermelons, honeydew and cantaloupe.
The majority of EarthBlend’s production will be coming from Agrocir’s Hermosillo and Guaymas, Sonora farms. Independent growers are located throughout Sonora and Sinaloa.
Agrocir’s cucumbers and Bell peppers will be produced in shade houses. The squash varieties and melons are produced in open fields.