The Giumarra Companies is pleased to announce the 100 year anniversary of its grower partner, Agrícola Santa Teresa S.A. de C.V. of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Giumarra and Santa Teresa have been working together for more than 45 years to market the company’s selection of high-quality produce.
“We are thrilled to help usher in a new chapter of continued success and quality with our partners and extended family at Santa Teresa,” says John Corsaro, CEO of the Giumarra Companies.
Giumarra and Santa Teresa partnership
Santa Teresa was founded in 1917 by Julio Podesta Sambuceti, originally of Genoa, Italy. In 1968, Julio’s daughter, Elva “Vita” Carlota Podesta, took over the management of the business. She met Don Corsaro, then president of the Giumarra Companies, in 1971. Giumarra was in the midst of rapid expansion within its import program, and Don saw an excellent opportunity in working with Mexico; thus, Vita and Don developed a business relationship.
“For a woman in Mexico to be the head of a business at that time was unheard of,” says Don Corsaro, chairman of the Giumarra Companies. “But Vita was tough. She aligned with some very prominent people in Culiacán who really respected her, and she worked on the packing line sorting tomatoes herself until 10 o’clock at night.”
The partnership between Giumarra and the Podesta family led to the opening of Giumarra’s Nogales sales division in 1971. Julio Podesta passed in 1973. Vita’s nephew, Enrique Lopez Podesta, became involved with the business in the 1980’s along with his brothers Sergio and Jaime Lopez Podesta.
Photo: Podesta Family
During the 1970’s and 80’s, many prominent tomato producers in the U.S. began to switch from vine-ripe to mature green tomatoes to service ever-growing fast food chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s. Enrique foresaw the need to make the shift within his own company.
“Switching to mature greens is probably why Santa Teresa is still in business today,” says Bill Clausen, executive vice president of the Giumarra Companies. “Enrique also facilitated the construction of two gassing facilities – one in Mexico and one in Nogales – to manage ripening and maintain excellent quality at a time when Mexico was competing heavily with U.S.-grown tomatoes.”
Enrique took over the management of Santa Teresa from his aunt Vita in 2006. He currently runs the company.
Contact:
Megan Schulz
The Giumarra Companies
Tel: (213) 627-2900