Giumarra Nogales has revealed that it is currently shipping its west Mexico watermelon programme, having kicked-off the spring season three weeks earlier than last year.
According to the importer-distributor, the early time frame is attributed to earlier transplanting, improved growing practices, and ideal weather conditions.
John Corsaro, Gil Munguia, Cesar Pacheco, and Scott Ross of Giumarra recently visited the company’s grower partner ranches in Sonora to assess the crop.
“These are some of the nicest quality fields I’ve seen, with excellent size, clean fruit, and great tonnage,” said Corsaro, CEO of the Giumarra Companies.
In describing the harvest pattern, Pacheco mentioned the success Giumarra Nogales has had in filling its watermelon gap by trialing watermelon crops in different areas of Mexico outside of its normal production in Sonora. The company now produces watermelons in the Mexican states of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Colima, and Michoacán.
“We will have a slight overlap as we transition out of the fruit from southern Mexico,' explained Pachecho. Our Sonoran programme starts just south of Guaymas and progresses northward as we work our way to Hermosillo.
Giumarra Nogales is well positioned to service customers with excellent quality and volume throughout June, and can offer Fair Trade Certified watermelons to customers who are interested.
The programme markets the certified watermelon for a slight premium, with labeling and point-of-sale materials to let consumers know their purchase is directly benefiting farm workers.
“Our grower is deeply invested in the Fair Trade programme and for two years, has used it to complement the excellent social responsibility principles already in place at his ranches,” added Munguia, division manager of Giumarra Nogales. “We hope to see more customers interested in the programme in the future as they realise the value of connecting with consumers in this way.”
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