Delta Fresh diversifying offerings with new blueberry deal

“We’ll start small in the first year, but we’ll have sufficient volume for promotions,” he said. “We anticipate this will be a successful program and one that we will look to grow in the future.”

Regarding winter vegetable items, Balderrama said it has been somewhat volatile so far this season, with up-and-down markets. Volume was unpredictable earlier in the season due to a spate of cold weather in the growing regions of Mexico.

“Volume slipped slightly a couple of weeks ago and last week we had a cold snap that stretched from northern Sonora all the way down to northern Sinaloa, which affected volume on crops such as soft squash and cucumbers,” Balderrama told The Produce News Jan. 30. “But as the weather warms up, production picks up quickly so we’re back to steady volume.”

Balderrama said Delta is adding a veteran squash grower in the coming weeks and will be able to increase offerings on both squash and cucumbers from the Hermosillo region into mid-June.

Delta’s tomato production also saw a few hiccups earlier in the season, especially on Romas, according to Balderrama.

“Our Roma deal from the shadehouses got off to a late start, maybe by around two weeks, but that is not too unusual as sometimes the season can get off to a rough start,” he said. “Now, we are in full stride out of Culiacan, and the Sonora crop will be coming on in early to mid-March, which is normal timing.”

He said quality on the Romas is “outstanding,” and the markets are “decent” with promotable volumes.

Delta’s hothouse vine-ripe tomatoes have been excellent so far this season, said Balderrama.

“We’re running our vine-ripes under glass in Sinaloa, and quality has been great from the start of the deal and should remain that way throughout the season,” he said.

Balderrama said Delta is year-round with Roma tomatoes, and this year it will have a year-round program for vine-ripes as well.

“In the past, we have taken a break on the vine-ripes, but this year we partnered with several growers in central Mexico, which will allow us to offer a year-round program with those,” he said.

Additionally, Delta’s colored Bell pepper deal kicked off in early January and will run into mid-May.

“We’re working with a grower that has an excellent operation in Guaymas,” said Balderrama. “His product is exceptional, and we will be marketing it under his ‘GYS’ label.”

Finally, Balderrama said Delta will promote its melon deal later this spring, and is looking forward to a return to table grapes this year.

“On melons, we’ll have seedless watermelons from late April to mid-June, and cantaloupes will start mid-April and run to mid-May, with fruit coming out of Hermosillo,” he said.

Regarding table grapes, Balderrama said, “We’re excited to be getting back into the grape deal this season with a reputable producer. We had done grapes in the past, but it’s been several years since we last handled them.”

He said Delta will be promoting Early Sweets and early-season Sugar Drops on the green varieties, and the Flame and Passion Fire varieties on the reds. Grapes will be grown in Hermosillo and promoted under the “Delta Fresh” label.

The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.

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