Grower Stories · Nogales, Arizona
Malena Produce
A Greek family, Mexican soil, and seventy years of growing vegetables the patient way.
The Stamos family emigrated from Greece to Mexico in search of new opportunities — and built one of the most respected produce operations in the region from the ground up. Generations later, they're still deeply involved in everything they grow.
For Malena and Nathel & Nathel, it's never just been about moving product. It's about shared trust, shared values, and shared purpose — across decades and seasons.
The Stamos family didn't set out to build a produce empire. They set out to find a better life. When they emigrated from Greece to Mexico, they brought with them the kind of work ethic that doesn't translate easily to paper — the willingness to start at zero, stay close to the land, and build something slowly and honestly. What grew from that beginning, over more than seven decades, is one of Mexico's most respected vegetable operations.
Malena Produce, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Nogales, Arizona, grows and ships tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, eggplants, and beans across the U.S. market. But the variety list is secondary to what actually defines them — a hands-on, family-close approach to every stage of growing, from seed selection to the moment the truck leaves the farm.
The Stamos family's commitment to quality isn't a policy — it's a disposition. They stay closely connected to every step of the process, which is rare at scale. In an industry that often rewards speed and volume over care, Malena has consistently chosen not to cut corners. Nothing is rushed. The vegetables they ship reflect the patience and intention that went into growing them.
"Nathel & Nathel truly understands the importance of partnership. Their support makes us feel like an integral part of their extended family."
Gonzalo Avila · Malena Produce
The relationship between Malena and Nathel & Nathel goes back to 2000 — more than two decades of working through seasons, markets, and the inevitable hard years that every grower-distributor partnership eventually faces. Like the Stamos family, Nathel & Nathel believes that quality starts with people and that lasting business relationships are built on trust, not just transactions.
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