KNOW YOUR GROWER: MIGUEL ALANIS
At Well•Pict, we make no secret how much we believe in our product, we believe in our packaging, and we believe in every little thing we do to bring you the freshest, most superb berries around. Well, none of what we do, what we believe in with all our hearts, would be possible without our fantastic, highly dedicated, independent growers. We’re pretty glad to know them, and we think you will be too. For this fourth installment of “Know Your Grower,” it is our pleasure to introduce you to Miguel Alanis:
WP: What do you grow for Well•Pict Berries?
MA: I grow Well•Pict’s proprietary raspberries.
WP: How long have you been growing for Well•Pict?
MA: I am in my third year of growing raspberries for Well•Pict.
WP: What is your background as a grower?
MA: I started in this industry in 2007. I did research for another company. After that, I became an agronomist for that same company. I was there for 10 years. At that point, I figured I would switch over to the farming side. I’ve been farming for 6 years now.
WP: What’s an “agronomist”?
MA: Agronomists are scientists who specialize in crop production and all aspects of soil management.
WP: You grow in Watsonville, what makes this area so great for raspberries?
MA: Watsonville has cool coastal air and fertile soil—the perfect conditions to grow Well•Pict quality raspberries.
WP: What do you look for in a berry when you are harvesting?
A: When we are harvesting, we look for color first. We don’t want it to be too light or too dark in its complexion. We make sure that the color is perfect before we pick.
WP: What makes the perfect Well•Pict berry?
MA: The shape and flavor. Both qualities are what I believe make the perfect Well•Pict berry—and what separates them from other berries.
WP: We notice that there are a lot of bees around the fields, why is that?
MA: We use bees for our traditional cross-pollination practices. The bees help our berries ripen and get that perfect shape, flavor, and aroma.
WP: What is your berry superpower?
MA: My berry superpower is that, through my growing efforts, I get to bring smiles to our Well•Pict customers.