Arizona-headquartered fresh produce company SunFed is expecting significantly larger vegetable volumes out of Texas this year, as it enters into its third full season in the state. 

Produce items the company grows in Texas include tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, squash and cucumbers.

“We’ve been operating in Texas for many years, but in terms of having a facility there and a full-on program, this is our third year,” vice president of sales Craig Slate said.

“So we’re anticipating a much larger program than we’ve had in the past. We’re excited to have squash as well as cucumbers, a large Roma program, and we will also be adding eggplant this year. Eggplant is not something we’ve had in Texas in the past, and that will hit mid- to late-summer.”

After its inaugural season, the company plans to take its eggplant program year-round and also eliminate seasonality from all its offerings in the long-term.

It says it is working hard to meet customers’ needs with expanding growing programs in Texas, increased value-added offerings, and even new sustainably-sourced products.

"We envision a year-round program on everything that we’re doing. With a smaller offering from November 1st through June 1st when Nogales will make up the larger portion of our operation," Slate said.

For SunFed, Texas serves as an important distribution hub from which the company can leverage its proximity to coastal markets to its advantage—particularly in the off season when decreased travel time can be a significant boon.

“During the summer months, Texas is the natural destination point due to proximity of growing regions; whereas, because it’s a year-round opportunity, during the winter months, that is when we’re going to utilize our Texas operations to give us access to the entire East Coast,” vice president of operations Matt Mandel said.

“It’s a freshness advantage in that the supply chain going to the east coast will shave a day—sometimes two—off of transit times compared to Nogales.”

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