Production & Capacity

Productive Infrastructure

Own Orchards

More than 3 million apple trees cultivated on approximately 2,545 hectares under responsible and sustainable agricultural practices in the Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua region.

Irrigation Technology

Technified drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation system with fertigation scheduling. Precision water control that maximizes water efficiency and minimizes environmental impact.

Packing Plant

Specialized packing facilities with sorting lines, grading by size and color, labeling and packing under strict internationally certified food safety and quality standards.

Refrigeration

Controlled-atmosphere refrigeration chambers that ensure fresh fruit availability throughout the year, guaranteeing constant supply to clients and commercial chains.

Industrial Plant

Industrial apple processing for the production of derivative products under the Delisana brand, using cutting-edge technology and complying with national and international standards.

Quality Control

In-house quality control and food safety laboratories. Processes audited by national and international certification bodies, including FSSC 22000, SMETA and USDA Organic.

Logistics & Distribution

National distribution network with refrigerated transport fleet. Coverage across the country's main markets, including supermarket chains and strategic distributors.

Solar Energy

Solar energy generation systems that reduce the carbon footprint of our operations, reinforcing our commitment to SDG 13: Climate Action.

World-Class Infrastructure An integrated, technified and certified productive platform from the field to the customer

The capital of Mexican apples

Grupo La Norteñita operates from Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, recognized as Mexico's most important apple-producing region. The conditions of the Chihuahuan highlands — mild summers, winters with regular frosts and altitudes above 2,000 meters — create the ideal microclimate for producing superior-caliber apples with high sugar density and uniform color.

Our infrastructure integrates every link in the production chain under a single quality standard: own orchards, packing plants, refrigeration chambers, Delisana industrial plant and refrigerated distribution fleet.

Full vertical integration: we are one of the few agro-industrial groups in Mexico that controls 100% of the value chain — cultivation, harvesting, sorting, packing, refrigeration, processing and distribution — in our own internationally certified facilities.

More than 2,545 hectares of own orchards in Cuauhtémoc, Chih.
3 million apple trees in active production
Packing plant with capacity for 80,000+ annual tons
Delisana industrial plant for derivative processing
In-house quality control and food safety laboratories
Own refrigerated transport fleet for national distribution

Aerial view of Grupo La Norteñita facilities

Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua · Production facilities

2,545 ha

Own orchard surface area

600 M

Apples produced per year

9,000+

Jobs during harvest season

14+

National and international certifications

Our Orchards The origin of quality: 3 million trees cultivated with precision agriculture

Orchards in full bloom · Cuauhtémoc, Chih.

Precision agriculture at every stage

Our orchards are the heart of the business. With more than 3 million apple trees on approximately 2,545 own hectares, we combine decades of agricultural experience with precision technology to obtain superior-caliber fruit, consistent and traceable from the tree to the consumer's shelf.

40% of Mexico's national apple consumption comes from our orchards. This market share is no coincidence: it is the result of decades of investment in plant genetics, soil management, irrigation technology and specialized human talent.

Main varieties we grow

Golden
Delicious

Red
Delicious

Fuji

Granny
Smith

Genetic selection of varieties adapted to Chihuahua's climate
Integrated pest management with certified organic approach (USDA Organic)
Technical pruning and manual thinning to maximize size and quality
Continuous phenological monitoring to determine the optimal harvest point
Selective manual harvesting to preserve fruit integrity
Lot traceability from tree to final destination

Technified Irrigation Technology

Water is the most critical resource in the Chihuahuan highlands. We invest in drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation systems with automated fertigation that reduce water consumption by up to 40% compared to gravity irrigation, aligning with SDG 6.

System components

High-precision self-compensating drippers per tree
Micro-sprinklers for frost control during flowering
Programmable filtration and fertigation headers
Soil moisture sensors with block-by-block automation
Remote real-time water consumption monitoring

Measurable benefits

Up to 40% reduction in water consumption vs gravity irrigation
Greater uniformity in fruit size and sugar content
Precise nutritional control through irrigation water
Less soil compaction between planting rows
Better response to water stress in dry seasons

Annual Field Cycle

Jan – Feb

Dormancy & Pruning

Winter dormancy. Technical pruning to renew fruit structures and control the productive load for the next cycle.

Mar – Apr

Blossom

Bud activation. Assisted cross-pollination. Preventive phytosanitary applications to protect fruit set.

May – Jul

Fruit Development

Manual thinning to achieve optimal caliber. Intensive fertigation. Continuous pest and disease monitoring.

Aug – Oct

Harvest

Selective manual harvesting by lots according to maturity index. Immediate transport to plant to preserve firmness.

Packing & Refrigeration Post-harvest technology that guarantees quality and availability 12 months a year

FSSC 22000 Certified Packing Plant

Once harvested, the apple arrives at our packing plant where it undergoes a rigorous process of reception, automated sorting, grading by size and color, washing, natural waxing, labeling and packing — all under the food safety conditions required by the strictest certification bodies in the national and international market.

Our plant operates under FSSC 22000 and holds SENASICA authorization, qualifying us as a supplier to Mexico's leading supermarket chains and export markets.

Reception & Weighing

Lot registration, orchard of origin, variety and harvest date. Full traceability from the very first step.

Sorting & Discarding

Optical and manual lines that identify and separate out-of-spec fruit by shape, size, color or damage.

Grading by size and color

Electronic equipment that sorts fruit into Extra, First and Second grade categories by weight, size and color percentage.

Washing, waxing & labeling

Washing with chlorinated water, natural vegetable-origin wax for preservation and shine, and individual or box labeling.

Packing & palletizing

Packing in 18 kg boxes, bulk or school units. Palletizing and wrapping for national distribution or export.

Sorting and packing lines · FSSC 22000 certified plant

Controlled atmosphere chambers · 12-month availability

Controlled Atmosphere Chambers

Controlled-atmosphere (CA) technology is our greatest competitive advantage in the market. These specialized chambers precisely regulate levels of oxygen, CO₂, temperature and humidity to suspend the ripening process, preserving the fruit's firmness, color and nutritional value for up to 10 months.

Thanks to this technology we are the only apple supplier in Mexico capable of guaranteeing continuous supply 12 months a year with domestic seasonal fruit, without imports to cover low-production periods.

Controlled parameters

Temperature: 32 °F – 39 °F (0 °C – 4 °C)
O₂ reduced to 1–3% (vs 21% atmospheric)
CO₂ elevated to 2–5% to inhibit respiration
Relative humidity: 90–95%
Active ethylene extraction

Benefits for the customer

Fresh Mexican fruit available all year
No dependence on seasonal imports
Greater firmness and shelf life at point of sale
Stable price, without extreme seasonal spikes
Same quality in January as in September

FSSC 22000 SENASICA USDA Organic México Calidad Suprema SMETA

Grupo La Norteñita is our strategic apple supplier. Their consistency in quality, capacity for continuous supply and compliance with international standards give us the confidence we need to offer the best product to our customers.

National Commercial ChainsStrategic Clients

Grupo La Norteñita's School Apple Program has positively impacted the nutrition of thousands of children. Their ability to supply quality fresh fruit to 39 schools throughout the school year is a testament to their commitment to community and health.

School Apple ProgramSDG 2 – Zero Hunger

Grupo La Norteñita's track record in international certifications such as USDA Organic, Star-K Kosher and FSSC 22000 reflects a genuine commitment to excellence. They are a benchmark for responsible Mexican agro-industry.

International MarketsExport Certifications

Productive Capacity in Numbers

80,000+

Tons of apple per year

40%

Of national apple consumption

12

Months of fruit availability per year

14+