CARZALIA VALLEY PRODUCE CONTINUING THEIR PROGRESSIVE FARMING

COLUMBUS, NM – Carzalia Valley Produce, home of the “Carzalia Sweet” onion has made a commitment to the sweet onion industry to keep pace of the ever changing produce world while basing all decisions on the sound, family-oriented values used to establish this farm over four generations ago.

These values have been the foundation for Carzalia Valley Produce to continue its progressive farming strategy. Currently, Carzalia Valley Produce consist of over 3000 acres of state-of-theart subsurface drip irrigation. "This irrigation method insures a more consistent quality of "Carzalia Sweet" while allowing us to conserve our most valuable resource, our water, " said James Johnson, vice president of Carzalia Valley Produce.

Another progressive move for Carzalia Valley Produce was the purchase and installation of a Compac Sorter. This sorting equipment will utilize camera as well as scales to determine the grade and size of the onion. “Our new sorter will handle the onions as if they were peaches, not bruising or damaging the onion in any way, insuring consistent quality and most important, consumer satisfaction,” Bill Johnson, president of Carzalia Valley Produce.

To continue the success of the "Carzalia Sweet," partnerships with New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) Onion Breeding Program, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and the New Mexico Dry Onion Commission have been developed. "The partnership with NMSU has produced a high quality true sweet onion seed conditioned for the harsh element of New Mexico’s high desert," Bill Johnson said. These relationships continue to keep Carzalia Valley Produce on the forefront of variety development, marketing and conservation issues. Carzalia Valley Produce is located in the high desert of southern New Mexico, where the "Carzalia Sweets" thrive in the very hot days and cool nights. Carzalia Valley Produce is a wholly owned subsidiary of W.R. Johnson & Sons. Established in 1971, Carzalia Valley Produce has evaluated and adjusted their operation to accommodate trends and changes of both production farming and the produce industry.

"Carzalia Sweet" is the only true summer sweet. It is available from early June through September. To be a true “Carzalia Sweet” the pyruvic acid level must not be higher than a 4.5, typically single-centered and will have a sweet mild flavor. This truly unique onion is sold exclusively by Griffin Holder, (800) 525-5397.