When was the last time you really thought about where your food comes from? When you visit your local produce department do you wander around just enjoying the colors and varieties of the season or do you just pick up what you need and move on? We, in the produce industry, really enjoy a trip the produce department at our local supermarkets. It helps us reconnect with the greatness of our industry. We spend everyday serving the world with good nutritional food that to most goes unnoticed, but to the trained eye there is a lot more to see.
It all starts with the right soil for the job. Here in the Coachella Valley we have some of the sandiest soil in the nation. It drains really well. There is very little delay in re-entering our fields after a rain storm because of the sandy soil. The right seed or transplant makes all the difference in the world. You need the right variety to go with our soil and weather here in the Coachella Valley. Once it is planted you then have to protect it. We spend a large amount of man hours making sure nature in some cases birds do not reclaim that seed or transplant. Young tender plants need tender love and nutrition just like our kids. Lots of sunshine, good clean water and plant food makes these young plants grow up strong and healthy.
Our water is tested and our fields are monitored to make sure everything is perfect. Then when everything is just right our babies are picked, packed, cooled and shipped to you generally within a 24 hour window.
Many other things go into getting the produce to the local grocery stores such as: a food safety program that insures the safest methods are used to plant, water, grow, harvest, and ship our produce; ordering containers that will protect the produce as it is transported; a trained irrigation crew that knows the right times to water; receiving, shipping, sales, and office staff to handle all the details during the growing and after the produce is harvested.
The next time you go into the produce department of your local market take the time to enjoy how much color and variety the farmers of America bring to the table every day.
