Mexican produce growers open state-of-the-art greenhouse in Southern Arizona

From Inside Tucson Business: A vanguard greenhouse venture by a Greek-Mexican-American family has suddenly changed the landscape on Interstate 19 from low-tech grazing to high-tech growing.

Wholesum Family Farms Inc., run by the dispersed heirs of Miguel Crisantes Gatzionis, a Greek pioneer in Mexico’s produce business, officially opened last month, 30 miles north of Nogales, the commercial and logistical hub of North American produce.

The family, leaders in organic produce, opened held ribbon-cutting ceremonies of its 12-acre Wholesum Harvest facility that employs 350. Some 250 people attended the four-hour event, which was presided over by company matriarch Yolanda Cristantes.

Among many guests was U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., who had just been elected to his fifth term in Congress.

Grijalva, whose district includes much of Santa Cruz County and western Arizona covers 300 miles of border, called the greenhouse a “wonderful investment for this region” and “one that we are all sure will be profitable and the start of something much bigger.” He praised the Crisantes family for its “entrepreneurial spirit and devotion to a family business that should be a role model for others.”

Wholesum’s primary organic products are greenhouse grown tomatoes, peppers and seedless cucumbers. In its shadehouses, Wholesum Harvest grows organic hard and soft squashes, hard squashes, bell peppers, cucumbers and eggplant. It also produces organic mangoes. The company’s organic tomato line is comprised of Roma and cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, cherry, grape and beefsteak tomatoes. It produces in Mexico, Arizona and in California. Customers include small and large chain retailers, wholesalers, food service operators and industrial operations throughout North America.

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