Remigio Antonio, Juan Carlos and José González
Commodities Grown: Squash, Grape tomatoes, Jalapeno, Mini sweet peppers
1) When did you know you wanted to be a farmer? Farming was not a decision as much as a matter of continuing what our father and grandfathers had begun many years ago.
2) When did you actually start farming? Agrícola Gonzmonther (Gonzalez Montenegro Hermanos) was formed in 1990, the year we shifted our focus to the growing of vegetables by installing the first drip irrigation system in the region.
3) What did you grow first? We started growing watermelon, roma tomatoes and squash – Italian and yellow.
4) What commodities have you grown over the years? Over the years we have grown roma tomatoes, yellow roma tomatoes, cluster cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, mini sweet peppers, bell pepper, colored bell pepper, Italian, yellow and gray squash, cucumber, onion, watermelon, melon and hot peppers (jalapeno, anaheim, caribe).
5) What is your favorite commodity to grow? To eat? Each product has its strengths and weaknesses and requires different handling. Our strongest products are the sweet mini peppers, jalapeños, grape tomatoes and squash (Italian and yellow). If I had to choose a favorite for growing, it would be the sweet mini pepper because of its novelty. Although it is considered a specialty item, we believe it has a lot of potential for growth. For eating, the grape tomatoes and sweet mini peppers are our favorites.
6) When you’re not farming/working, what do you like to do with your spare time? In my spare time I always have something to fix at home. I like reading. Outdoors I like fishing, scuba diving and all water sports. I also enjoy running.
7) How would you describe your farm to someone who has never seen it before? What can one say about something that is so dear to them? What can one say about something that is so dear to them? I can’t describe it physically, except to say that it is a land cultivated by our father and grand fathers from which we live. My father has always said that this is a business for the insane because you are exposed to factors that you have little or no control over, like weather, pests and markets. The only thing we can do is give each product everything thing it needs without skimping and hopefully produce the best quality possible.
8) What gives you the most satisfaction in farming? Satisfaction in farming comes from watching the development of each product as they overcome all adversities that they are exposed to on a daily basis, going to market with a good quality product and of course, receiving a positive return on our investment.
9) How long have you been farming and how long has farming been in your family? Agrícola Gonzmonther has been in operation for 20 years. Both of my grandfathers were farmers, growing basically cotton and grains. I remember my grandfather telling me he had grown roma tomatoes and sent them to Nogales on the train sometime in the ‘50’s. My father began farming in 1965 also with cotton and grains. In 1975 he began growing potatoes and he continues to this day. He has also ventured in onions and squash, but they have not been a constant for him.
10) Tell your story behind your favorite brand ‘label’ and why it was chosen. My father, grandfather, great grandfather, great, great grandfather were all named Remigio and were called Miko for short. My father decided to use Miko as the label for our products.
11) If you could choose any other line of work what would that be and why? If I had to choose another line of work, I guess it would be something that had to do with the processing or industrialization of farm products.
12) What are your favorite places to visit in Mexico and why? There are many places to visit like the beaches, cities, etc. What I like best are the sites where one can learn the culture and history of Mexico, like the archeological ruins and cities with a history. Cancun and its surrounding area is probably a place I would like to re-visit since it has the cultural and recreational attractions I look for.