Rio Grande Okra sales specializes in Clemson spineless okra, grown in Central Mexico, and has recently begun testing some Indian varieties to meet potential customer demand.
Some of General Manager, Richard Zepeda’s customers, as well as one of his colleagues, are involved in selling to Asian markets or are Indian or Asian customers that shop at ethnic retailers. In meeting with some of his customers last summer he was asked if he’d be interested in supplying them with Indian okra. “(The idea) was already on the back burner last season,” he said. Indian okra has started becoming available through competitors (and grown out of Honduras). “When something’s new out there everybody wants to be involved in it.” They have yet to decide on which variety to go with and he just got his hands on seeds for the third variety, with results to come around mid February.
Clemson supply is in the beginning of peak season. Highest volume occurs between late February and all of March or into April. “Right now production is increasing gradually every week but we also have to deal with weather issues this time of year. At the beginning of the season (can be) rain, now there are colder nights. Okra loves warm sunny days. That’s when it grows best so if you have cold nights, foggy, dewy mornings you’re going to have issues,” he said. Okra is not something to be shipped when wet for the fresh market.
Prices fluctuate with supply. “Honduras is likely finishing up certain fields and starting new ones so the new plants aren’t producing volume yet so you have a reduction in volume. When we both have high volume the price drops. Right now it’s about average for this time of year,” Zepeda said.
He’s looking forward to being able to offer something different to customers with the Indian okra. “I like it because it’s something different and I hope we do branch out and establish some steady customers.”
