“About three years ago, we started transitioning from open-field eggplants to greenhouse grown,” says Craig Slate with SunFed. “Starting with our upcoming summer crop, all our eggplants will be greenhouse grown, completing our year-round program,” he added. The eggplants are grown in mid-tech greenhouses, also called shade houses. “The protected environment turns the end-product into a beautiful item on the shelf. It really is a signature item that looks so much better than its field-grown counterpart.”
SunFed eggplant grown in protective environment
First summer program
All production is Mexico-grown and on August 1st, SunFed will starts its first summer program from a brand-new ranch in Central Mexico. “Until this year, we didn’t have the right location to grow in summer, but we found it,” shared Slate. All SunFed’s summer eggs will enter the US through Texas.” In winter, we primarily use Nogales, AZ, but also ship through Texas.” The summer program will finish around November 1, at which point in time the winter program will have begun. With the addition of the summer program, SunFed has added yet another item to its list of year-round offerings. With this expansion, eggplant will solidify its rank in the company’s top 5 products.
SunFed eggplants at retail
Organic availability in winter
SunFed has perfected the use of StePac’s modified atmosphere/modified humidity Xtend packaging. This allows SunFed’s Perfect Eggplant to reach retail destinations from the Midwest to the Northeast and throughout Canada with just-harvested freshness. Currently, the company grows the traditional purple eggplant, but is testing some other varieties including Graffiti. At the moment, organic eggplants are available during SunFed’s winter program.
Please visit SunFed at booth #308 of the Organic Produce Summit in Monterey on July 13.
Contact:
Craig Slate
SunFed
Tel: 214-748-2290