“The majority of our organic bananas come from Mexico,” says Mayra Velazquez de León, president and CEO of Organics Unlimited. “However, at this time of the year the weather cools slightly in our growing regions in Mexico and production slows as a result. Therefore, we supplement the Mexican product with high-quality, organic bananas from our farms in Ecuador where the weather at this time of year is warmer and production remains high.” Typically, production in Mexico slows during the months of December to March. Trucked in from Mexico
Organics Unlimited handles the logistics of shipping bananas from their origin to the US. After harvest, the company’s bananas from Mexico are washed, packed, and loaded on to temperature-controlled trucks that carry them to the US through the port of entry in Otay Mesa, San Diego, CA. “From there, the bananas come into our warehouse in San Diego. This shipping method provides us with the freshest organic bananas on the market,” mentioned Velazquez de León. Organic bananas from Ecuador arrive by ship at the Port of Los Angeles.
Bananas ripen close to retail location
“Our customers handle the logistics of delivery to their ripening rooms and on to stores from there. Fruit is picked up by our wholesale distributors and ripened in their own ripening facilities before being sent to their retail locations,” shared Velazquez de León. “With this method, our organic bananas ripen at a location near their sale to consumers, under the supervision of our customers, which allows for the product to reach consumers in the best condition possible.”
Mexican gas prices spike
The hike in gas prices in Mexico has resulted in a logistical challenge for produce companies importing from Mexico. “We are putting additional effort into making sure our customers are receiving their orders on time and in peak condition,” mentioned Velazquez de León.
Limited competition from other fruit in winter
Bananas are a staple product for many Americans. About 95 percent of US households purchase the fruit weekly. With the holidays past and New Year’s resolutions in full swing, many people are committing or returning to healthy eating habits. “We often see a slight uptick in sales in January. Additionally, as there’s not much competition from local produce this time of year, so our organic bananas are in demand.”
For more information:
Mayra Velazquez de León
Organics Unlimited
Tel: 619-710-0658