As the Arkansas tomato harvest approaches in early June, Triple M Farms owners Wendell Moffatt and James Meeks are moving forward, planning for business as usual, despite the coronavirus concerns around the country.
Gary Margolis, president of Gem Tomato Sales Inc., which has led the movement of direct marketing for Arkansas’ popular tomato varieties and offers vine-ripened tomatoes such as Rounds and Romas, said that he wouldn’t expect anything less from these veteran growers.
“Farmers face the risk and uncertainty of weather, labor supply and food safety issues every season,” he said. “The coronavirus is very serious and affects all of us, but people still need to eat. Our customer base is primarily focused on the retail segment where loyal long-term customers are expressing strong interest in the upcoming crop.”
In 2020, the volume and quality of tomatoes out of Mexico have been erratic due to weather, trade agreements and mandatory USDA inspections now required at the border. In addition, reduced acreage in the North Florida region over the years has led to increased interest and demand for field-grown Arkansas Home Grown vine ripes, which are some of the earliest of the summer season.
“At this time, despite a wet spring, the fields are looking good and we expect a normal start around June 10,” Margolis said. “Products include round, Roma and grape tomatoes with a variety of packaging and labeling options, which are all Primus GFSI certified. Triple M Farms has been operating and improving upon its centralized Hamburg, Arkansas, packing facility since its construction in 1999.”
Gem Tomato has been around since 1982 with offices in Arkansas, Florida and Michigan, marketing and promoting fresh market vine-ripened summertime tomatoes.
It was Margolis who helped pave the way for an increased tomato production in Arkansas, changing the way things used to be done.
“I met Wendell and James 30 years ago and they were selling tomatoes in an open-box system at auction tables in various locations throughout Southeast Arkansas,” he said. “As I got to know them, I explained why it was failing and a flawed way of selling them. The highest bidder wasn’t always the best customer. We needed to control the product.”
So, in 1999, the pair broke away from the auction set, teamed with Margolis on a facility and saw their acreage continue to expand as demand for tomatoes increased annually.
“We could offer promotions knowing we would have volume and there were no more unknowns of the auction system,” Margolis said. “The product line diversified and we cultivated close ties with our customers. Most are regulars and all have committed to supporting the Arkansas tomato deal.”
Margolis called his partners “two of the best growers I have ever worked with” and is always impressed with how they get the job done.
“They’ve done a phenomenal job and don’t cut any corners. They seem to succeed when growing conditions are difficult,” he said. “Win or lose, they will do what it takes to make a good crop. They’ve faced challenges such as labor, food-safety and expansion of greenhouse grown, but in the face of that, they continue to survive and they seem satisfied and excited to do it year after year.”
(Pictured above are Wendell Moffatt and James Meeks of Triple M Farms.)
