Volume with Mexican produce crossings at Nogales set a record in February and it should only increase in the coming weeks.
Ciruli Bros. of Rio Rico, AZ is shipping bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, some hot pepper varieties and tomatoes from the West Mexico growing region. The company says crossings at the border during February has set a record for volume.
The shipper also has launched its Champagne mango program a little earlier this year from Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacán. Volume is steady and the company hopes to keep this momentum for the next four months.
At MAS Melons & Grapes in Rio Rico, Ariz., it will continue with core items including several varieties of table grapes, honeydew melons, seedless watermelons.
The shipper also is increasing its volumes on soft squashes such as Italian, yellow and gray, as well as on cucumbers and hard squashes, mainly kabocha, butternut and spaghettis.
The company also is producing a new variety of melons it’s calling Orange Candy. The variety has bright yellow skin with light orange flesh.
Fresh Farms of Rio Rico, Ariz., is loading a wide array of dry vegetables, with increased volumes in varietal corn, green beans and watermelon.
The company will have increased volume of green and red grape varieties from the Jalisco growing region, which has been under development for several years. Jalisco grapes will enter the marketplace around Mid-March and ship to the end of April.
The early grapes are experiencing very strong demand from retailers. The early grapes from Mexico are especially well-timed this year, when Chile is expected to struggle with late season quality.
Grapes from the major production area in Sonora, Mexico, about 800 miles to the north of Jalisco, typically begin in early May. However, the Sonora harvest could be slightly later this year because of cooler weather there.