California-based Vision Produce Company has announced the debut of major grower deals encompassing a year-round program with production in Mexico and southern California. 

While the company had similar arrangements before, this new deal is much more comprehensive and will allow it to provide products to a larger number of customers.

The first harvest was shipped this week and included jalapeno, pasilla, serrano and caribe chilies, as well as tomatillos.

In the spring, Vision Produce will be adding habanero and manzano chilies to complete the full line offering

All varieties will be packaged under the California Chile Company and the Rodriguera Farms labels.

"This was the next natural evolution in our ongoing goal to get closer to the source. With the growing popularity of chili peppers, it was important for us to have our own product controlled from seed to distribution," vice president of marketing and sales development Donald Souther said.

"This will allow us to have complete control over quality and availability to best service our growing customer base. Certified Food Safety will accompany both labels as an additional feature."

He added demand for chili products had been steadily increasing, and was the main reason for the company seeking additional deals to help secure supply.

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