Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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eye appeal. I'm probably the one of a few who could pass the USDA #1 hands
down every time. Because we have the eye appeal, and we get money there.”
Rob notes that if customers “are truly organic-minded, they don't care if
it is not washed.” But Mary says, “For a lot of the organic market it is not
important, but if you want to get into an upper-end grocery store and get
those repeated orders, it is important that you have that eye appeal.”
Their fields are certified organic, and they have a certified organic packing
facility. Mary describes how difficult it was to create this organic packing-
house. “The Department of Citrus came out. First, they wouldn't let us have
a license for a packinghouse because we couldn't fumigate, and finally we
appealed to the Board of Citrus Commissioners, and they rewrote the citrus
laws for organics for us. We are the ones who got that instituted - that we
did not have to fumigate because we are organic. We did not have to wax
because we were organic. So a lot of the rules were rewritten for organic
growers.” Explaining the packing equipment, Rob says they “bought all that
new equipment about three years ago. We had a good year and had a little
extra dough, sowe bought new instead of searching around buying some old
used junk. I could have went around and bought all kinds of junk packing
equipment, but by the time you rework it, you are going to have the same
in it as buying custom.” It is custom built for their operation. Now Rob and
Mary grow, pack, market, and ship their own citrus, plus they pack, market,
and ship for a few other certified organic growers.
Mary explains,“I have other growers right around here that I sell and pack
for because it is good, it is quality.”Although the citrus meets her standards
for quality, Mary notes, “We pack for a hysterical group: a professor, a
millionaire, a teacher, fireman, and a retired engineer. And then you throw
Rob into the mix! These men will be the death of me yet! They actually
tell me, 'Oh, I couldn't get picked 'cuz we went to a party instead.' Can
you believe that? We don't even have Christmas around here, 'cuz we're so
busy, but they just go off and don't pick! We pack for six or seven growers,
it depends on who is on 'time out' - they are just like kids! - who's been
misbehaving?! Then I don't want to deal with them for a while. I keep telling
them, 'I've got orders and these people need their citrus!' ”
Rob explains his philosophy: “I will pay premium dollars for premium
fruit, but I ain't paying something for junk. I am at a point now where if
I do any dealings with anyone I am not going to tell them anything. I am
going to pack it first. I will pay you for the premium packed fruit boxes. The
rest of it you come and get it out of here, unless I can sell it at a flea market
or move it in the yard. I will work something out. Some of the grapefruits
that came up here, what a joke. My packers are looking at me saying, 'What
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