CHAMPERICO, GUATEMALA - Classic Fruit and Westside Produce have logged another first in their books as the providers begin harvesting in Guatemala. Coupled with several other updates, the new venture will strengthen their ability to provide melons 52 weeks a year. From facility updates to new varieties, the alliance is thrilled to head into this season.

One priority the providers are focusing on is food safety, a goal Garrett Patricio, President of Westside Produce, considers to be high on the list of enhancements when he noted, “Food safety continues to be paramount in our approach to delivering the safest, most wholesome, fruits to our customers.”

Paul Raggio, President at Classic Fruit, echoed the same sentiment.

“Internal labs staffed at each of our packing houses continuously swab contact surface areas to ensure cleanliness before packing can begin and during packing to allow continued packing,” Raggio commented. “These same internal lab staff at each packing shed also inspect and approve all outgoing containers for cleanliness before any Classic product can be loaded on them for export.”

These safety measures, working in tandem with the new facility updates, lead to greater quality in melons.

“We have nearly completed our new packing facility in Champerico, Guatemala, where we produce a majority of our import honeydews and watermelons,” stated Fernando Garcia Salas, General Manager of Classic Guatemala. “We also continue trialing cantaloupe and honeydew varieties at various times and locations during the season to optimize flavor profiles in addition to our regular seedless watermelon, personal watermelon, and specialty import melons such as the Dino, Hamis, and Yellow Melons that we will be offering this season.”

As noted in the release, the alliance continues production techniques under parameters required for Rainforest certification and trialing improved sustainability efforts. This includes utilizing solar power, planting and incorporating cover crops, reforestation, and producing all the plastic trays required to be placed under each melon.

Additionally, transportation improvements have been made, and carriers will now offer additional service to multiple U.S. destinations.

“These logistical improvements allow us to locate more products at various U.S. ports, lessening the time between product harvest and delivery to the ultimate customer destination,” stated Samuel Hernandez, Assistant General Manager of Classic Guatemala. “We expect excellent early season quality and optimum sizing and are excited to be able to deliver them to these additional destinations.”

For more fresh produce advancements and updates, keep an eye out for more reports from ANUK.

Westside Produce Classic Fruit