Mexico's Organic Winter Veg Poised to Fire on All Cylinders

By all accounts, Mexico had an excellent fall growing season, and the outlook for organic vegetable production this winter also appears to be very favorable.

Divine Flavor headquartered in Nogales, AZ, reported that a solid offering of organic vegetables from Mexico is coming into the United States through the Nogales port of entry. Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for the company, said the shift to the Culiacan production area in the state of Sinaloa was in full swing in late December, with volume expected to pick up throughout January. He noted that growers have been dealt mostly favorable weather conditions and supplies are increasing.

Michael DuPuis, Quality Assurance and Public Relations Coordinator, Divine Flavor

Both organic and conventional production of a host of items, including colored and mini peppers, grape and round tomatoes, and cucumbers were maturing on schedule, DuPuis said. Divine Flavor continues to increase its organic acreage as part of its sustainability program. Although not all its organic produce is sold as organic, DuPuis said the company is committed to continuing to increase its organic acreage.

Alex Leon, who brokers both conventional and organic vegetables from the Nogales office of Bernardi & Associates, said volumes of many organic items as well as conventional ones are going to be up this year.

Divine Flavor continues to increase its organic acreage as part of its sustainability program.

Leon theorized that when growers were making their production plans a couple of months ago, they were optimistic that an end to the pandemic and a return to normalcy was in sight. Instead, as production ramps up in West Mexico, uncertainty is once again at the forefront. “Right now, we are not sure what’s going to happen,” he said, noting that COVID cases appear to be escalating everywhere.

Nonetheless, he said supplies of organic tomatoes and other organic crops are increasing and should be in very good volume by the middle of January. “Organic grape tomatoes have already started with volume, and we have good volume on organic Romas as well,” he said. “We should see the other tomatoes and vegetables follow suit by January 14 or 15.”

Most items are coming into relatively soft markets, meaning there are good opportunities for promoting organic tomatoes and other commodities. The uncertainty, however, is causing a pause on promotional activity as buyers are taking a wait-and-see-approach.

“Organic grape tomatoes have already started with volume, and we have good volume on organic Romas as well. We should see the other tomatoes and vegetables follow suit by January 14 or 15.” – Alex Leon

Divemex Marketing Manager Christian Avalos said the company is a bell pepper specialist and offers cucumbers and several other items as well. A significant percentage of its volume is grown organically in greenhouses in the states of Jalisco, Sinaloa, and Nayarit. The bell pepper program includes organic offerings of colored peppers and mini peppers, packed under the Divemex brand. The company also works with retailers all over the United States and Canada providing private label packs for organic peppers and other crops.

Christian Avalos, Marketing Manager, Divemex

Avalos said the company strives for consistent year-round production of organic peppers but noted that supplies do tend to increase at the beginning of the year as the Sinaloa production in the growing region surrounding Culiacan moves into its peak period. “We do have promotable supplies of all of our peppers, including organics,” he said.

Toward the future, Avalos said it is Divemex’s goal to increase its organic footprint. “Customers are always looking for product that is better for the planet,” he said. “Over the next five years, our main goal is to be 100-percent organic.”

Rio Rico, AZ-based Grower Alliance is another grower-shipper that is intent on growing its organic volume. Spokesperson Michelle Jacobson said the company represents more than 50 growers in Mexico in a handful of states, with a wide variety of crops and a robust lineup of organic items.

In fact, Jacobson said increasing its organic program has been a major initiative of Grower Alliance for the past couple of years as the company added two new sales representatives to specifically focus on organics. “A couple of years ago, organics accounted for 14 percent of our sales,” she said. “Right now, organics make up 35 percent of our business.”

“Customers are always looking for product that is better for the planet. Over the next five years, our main goal is to be 100 percent organic.” – Christian Avalos

One major source of expansion for Grower Alliance is its watermelon program, which will include organic watermelons. The company’s list of vegetable products currently available in organic SKUs are squash, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

Jacobson believes the increase in demand is being driven by a new generation of consumers who are committed to organics.