Nelly Yunta, vice president of Customized Brokers, headquartered in Miami, said that because the company specializes in fresh produce, a streamlined process is essential in the services it offers.

“Produce doesn’t have time to sit at ports so we work seven days a week to consolidate where possible, reduce paperwork and coordinate with truckers to ensure that products get to their destination as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Yunta.

RIO RICO, AZ — Hot peppers and soft squash are on the expanding new product list of Golden Desert Produce LLC, which is located here. The hot peppers will be available from March through May.

The soft squash, available from December through February, will be yellow squash and zucchini, said Gabriel (Gabe) Nunez, Golden Desert’s managing member and sales manager. The firm is shipping “Golden Desert” and other squash brands.

NOGALES, AZ — Eggplant is the current focus in the effort of Wholesum Family Farms Inc., to move to year-round shipping programs.

Ricardo Crisantes Sr., vice president of sales and marketing for the company, which is based here, said that eggplant is currently the “biggest gap” in the firm’s year-round vegetable vision. Wholesum is creating nine acres of a poly greenhouse to have eggplant from May until November. This will complement Wholesum’s current availability from December to May.

Del Campo Supreme Inc. has introduced two new packaged vegetable products.

Jimmy Munguia said the firm is offering new sweet baby Bell peppers in consumer bags, and a “T’mates” brand consumer-boxed cocktail tomato-on-vine.

RIO RICO, AZ — A slow roll out toward consumer packaging and labeling is under way by SunFed Produce, LLC. The process began in October with new packages and brands displayed at the PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim.

Central to the efforts are the creative talents of Brett Burdsal, who was hired in August as SunFed’s director of marketing.

“We will have additional grower-direct deals in chili peppers, honeydew melons, watermelons, squash and bell peppers,” said Donald Souther, vice president of marketing and sales development for Vision Produce Co. headquartered in Los Angeles. “And we are re-introducing our ‘California Chile Company’ brand with a refreshed look and exposure through our print, marketing outlets, social media and our packaging. Our ‘La Visión’ label has expanded into watermelon and squash.”