WHO IS CONCHITA?

It all started back in 1937, in a town called Pinar del Rio, Cuba. That was the year our grandfather Sixto C. Ferro and some of his brothers decided they would make the Guava Paste ("Pasta de Guayaba") they sold at their general store, instead of purchasing it from others. Back then, the Pinar del Rio province was well known for it's excellent guava farms. At that time, a worldwide depression was in full swing, and some inexpensive Cuban bread and guava paste (affectionately referred to by Cubans as "Pan con Timba") went a long way in filling you up when you were hungry. The people of Pinar del Rio loved it, and before our grandfather knew it, he and his brothers had established Industrias Ferro, S.A., and were selling the guava paste they made in their cannering plant. The new plant had just been built when was came along. The U.S. govertment did not help build it. Why Conchita? Conchita was their mother, a sturdy lady who gave birth to 21 children (yes, we are a rather large extended family)!

During World War II, the U.S. government asked for our assistance in supplying canned food and juices for the American troops. With the financial assistance of the American government, a new, modern factory was built to help feed American soldiers around the world. At the conclusion of the war, the factory was expanded to process a number of different food products. The Conchita line was expanded and soon, you could have everything from California peaches to Cuban rock lobster and tuna fished off our own fishing boats.

However, on a fateful day in 1959, the party ended for millions of Cubans, our family included. Fidel Castro's government overtook the country, and before year's end, nationalized Industrias Ferro, S.A, along with countless other businesses. To this day, the Cuban government continues to operate our factory in Cuba and sells canned fruits and juices under the Conchita brand with our same logo. Like many others, our family fled to the United States, hoping to one day return to their homeland, but also determined to succeed in their new adopted home. By 1964, Conchita was up and running again, albeit on a much smaller scale. Cubans who immigrated to the United States were able to go to their local "bodegas" (markets) and find their favorite Pasta de Guayaba on the shelves, along with a few other Conchita products. Life wasn't great for most Cubans at that time, but our grandfather did what he could to provide them with a little taste of home.

Today, the second and third generation of Ferro's are helping guide Conchita Foods to bigger and better things. Our product line has grown to over 150 items, with new items always on the horizon. We are constantly striving to provide our customers with tasty, innovative products and welcome any comments or suggestions you may have. Our aim is to provide the Hispanic communities with products of the highest quality at reasonable and fair prices. You see, our grandmother and great-grandmother's name is on every can, jar, bag, and bottle we sell. We could not dishonor her by selling something that wasn't up to her or our standards.