PORTLAND, OR - Rico Farms recently began shipping its first crop of organic hard squash out of its newest location in Guaymas, Mexico. This new farm will supply organic acorn, delicata, butternut, spaghetti, and kabocha squash from now until early April.

“The warmer winter weather in Guaymas allows us to have a consistent supply of organic Mexican hard squash from November through May. Rico Farms had previously seen a gap in availability between the Fall and Spring season at its Hermosillo location,” stated Ben Johnson Bridges Produce President. “The addition of the Guaymas farm also fills the final gap in Bridges' year-round organic hard squash program. With supplies coming from California during the summer months, the Pacific Northwest in the fall and transitioning to Mexican supply for the winter and spring seasons.”

The Guaymas farm also leaves room for further expansion with 40 percent of the available acreage currently fallow. To better plan for this potential expansion, Rico Farms is performing numerous crop trials to determine the best options for the climate, soil conditions, and pest pressure.

Prior to this season beginning, Rico Farms in Guaymas was certified by Fair Trade USA. The Tapia family, owners of all three locations, hope to continue the success of this program in Guaymas, which allows them to make improvements to the community and the lives of the workers.

“The Fair Trade committee is assembled and ready to work with all of the employees on the next steps. We have a good plan and people are happy here,” remarked Jacobo Yanes, Operations Manager.

Ben Johnson added, “The Tapia family has created a foundation to fund education and personal development and land stewardship,” says Ben Johnson “Their larger mission of Creating wellbeing in a sustainable world is based on the three Ps, people, planet, and profit and the way in which they carry out this mission is reflected in everything they do.”

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Bridges Produce