Divine Flavor's Six-Pillar Promise Leads to SuccessDivine Flavor's Six-Pillar Promise Leads to Success

Operating under the philosophy of growing “Better Food for a Better World,” Nogales, AZ-based Divine Flavor has been offering organic vegetables and grapes since 2006, when original founder Alan Aguirre and Carlos Bon, Jr. teamed up with Pedro Batiz to create the company.

The family-run and grower-owned distribution company is part of the Grupo Alta portfolio, a Sonora, Mexico-based company that is celebrating its 30^th anniversary in 2021.

“They wanted to open up a distribution company here in Nogales to be the marketing arm of the ranches,” said Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for Divine Flavor. “Since our company opened up, we’ve been focusing on some key things, making sure we are producing organically and sustainably in the best possible way.”

Michael DuPuis, Quality Assurance and Public Relations Coordinator, Divine Flavor

Over the years, Divine Flavor has grown to become one of the largest importers of Mexican table grapes in the United States, working with more than 25 different commercial varieties.

“That success has increased over the years, and we’ve become a very major player in that category,” DuPuis said. “Table grapes are a unique commodity. They require a lot of dedication and attention to detail. Our teams growing our products have the passion and experience to be successful.”

“Since our company opened up, we’ve been focusing on some key things, making sure we are producing organically and sustainably in the best possible way.” -Michael DuPuis

Additionally, the company has been specializing in hothouse vegetables all throughout Mexico and has been increasing its acreage and partnerships for those products.

“About two years ago, we introduced a really big campaign internally and with our growing partners in our fields, and that’s our six-pillar promise,” DuPuis said. “Basically, to grow Divine Flavor product and pack under the Divine Flavor brand, you have to comply with the six pillars.”

The six pillars include quality, food safety, social responsibility, traceability, organics, and sustainability.

“Table grapes are a unique commodity. They require a lot of dedication and attention to detail. Our teams growing our products have the passion and experience to be successful.” -Michael DuPuis

“All of those we believe are the core areas in this industry to be competitive,” DuPuis said. “It all starts with being able to offer great-tasting products. We’re very fortunate and think we have such a great product line between our table grapes, bell peppers, and mini peppers—and the many different tomatoes and cucumbers we specialize in as well.”

By being able to offer all these products organically, Divine Flavor can adhere to its philosophy of preserving the land it grows on and ensuring it is producing the most healthy, delicious, and nutritious fruits and vegetables it possibly can.

The company does offer some conventional product as well to serve the programs of some of their customers who still want both. Still, a lot of its production is coming from organic production fields.

“We try to apply as many organic practices as possible, whether that’s natural repellants or reducing the amount of pesticides or insecticides applied,” DuPuis said.

By being able to offer all these products organically, Divine Flavor can adhere to its philosophy of preserving the land it grows on and ensuring it is producing the most healthy, delicious, and nutritious fruits and vegetables it possibly can.

A lot of the company’s ranches have been converting to hothouse innovation and that has been another contributor to its success.

“That really helps us out with the organic side of things and trying to produce as much organic as possible,” DuPuis said. “Organics and sustainability have always been important components of our success. To produce the best results, you have to grow the plants the way nature intended them to be. We want to be able to produce the same food that we would feed our own families.”

Divine Flavor’s table grape season used to run from Mid-May to the end of June, but through the years and through experience, it has been able to strategically extend the season by planting later varieties.

“Organics and sustainability have always been important components of our success. To produce the best results, you have to grow the plants the way nature intended them to be. We want to be able to produce the same food that we would feed our own families.” -Michael DuPuis

“We find the best growing locations to grow our products, and it takes a lot of skill, expertise, and investment to be able to set up shop and grow in the best regions of Mexico,” DuPuis said. “We’ve had really solid programs that have translated into year-long programs, whether it’s working in Sonora, in western Mexico, or down south. We also have operations down in Baja.”

“For us, it’s important that any time we expand or acquire new growing regions, that first and foremost it complies with our six-pillar promise,” DuPuis said. “That’s what makes us very competitive and unique as a company. Consumers want a brand they can rely on, and that’s what Divine Flavor’s MO is all about. We want consumers to walk away with a great experience, knowing it was ethically sourced, organic, and grown with expertise.”