PHARR, TX - SmartCold, a Triple H family company, has been providing distribution and logistics out of Pharr, Texas since 2015. Strategically located just a few miles away from the Pharr-Reynosa bridge, SmartCold has been providing its in-depth services to produce companies like Del Rey Avocado, a family-owned business that both grows its own product and buys from Mexico. Patrick Lucy, Vice President of Organic Sales for Del Rey Avocado, spoke with me about what made SmartCold his company’s choice for its produce distribution needs.

“We’ve been working with SmartCold since April of 2015, thanks to a recommendation from one of our Co-Packers out of Mexico,” explained Patrick. “We were looking for a new company to work with, and after meeting with the people at SmartCold, we not only loved what they had to say, but they’ve been able to back up their promises.”

Patrick and Del Rey Avocado were one of SmartCold’s first clients, with the company growing from just five loads per week back then, to an average of 20 loads per week today. Del Rey Avocado cited SmartCold as one of the driving forces behind its increased volume and decreased rejections.

“The clarity of communication we have with SmartCold is unmatched. Whether it be through fax, email, or phone calls—our team is never afraid to call and check in for updates on our products,” Patrick shares about his experiences with the distribution company. “It’s that willingness to go the extra mile and do special loadings past hours that makes the difference. It helps us pass on that better service to our customers.”

Ownership of the product, Patrick says, is something SmartCold has taken very seriously. Because Del Rey Avocado is based in California, the company can’t always have eyes on the product. SmartCold makes this a non-issue.

“SmartCold provides us with quality control checks and always lets us know if anything is dinged, or running hot,” Patrick went on. “We’ve been very happy with the service. To have an effective cooler in Texas where most of our product from Mexico goes through in invaluable.”

Want to learn more about the services SmartCold can provide to the produce industry? Visit SmartCold.us to get an even more in-depth look.

SmartCold Del Ray Avocado