Cold Calls: Some businesses enjoy brisk sales as Brownsville heats up

Thalia Romero and Paul Hernandez stopped for a raspa Wednesday afternoon to quench their thirst and beat the summer heat. They admit to buying these frozen treats several times a week because of the elevated temperatures, and they are frequently looking for ways to keep cool.

"We've been buying raspas and drinking lots of water," Romero said with a lemon-flavored raspa in her hand.

Hernandez chimed in: "Anything with ice."

Maria Olvera works at Mr. G's raspa stand on Palm Boulevard and is not surprised by the booming sales.

More than 200 raspas are sold daily, Olvera said, and customers are always complaining about the heat.

Luis Valadez, plant manager at St. Joseph's Water and Ice in Brownsville, is also seeing an increase in sales this summer.

"This year we have acquired more accounts than last year," Valadez said, also mentioning that convenience stores and restaurants are the biggest ice customers.

Business usually begins to pick up in the beginning of March and continues through the end of summer. The company provides the delivery of ice and water throughout the Valley and people may visit its water and ice station on Price Road to purchase ice bags and water. The company also has stations where water is sold by the gallon.

"The heat is helping out tremendously," Valadez said. "Each year the heat is getting a little worse and the ice and water industry benefits from that."

Air conditioning contractors are also seeing an increase in business this year.

Carlo Hernandez, owner of AC-I Services Air Conditioning, has been receiving an average of ten service calls a day, mostly from people who are completely without air conditioning.

"During drought months, air units suffer more," Hernandez said, "and people waited too long, or did not plan any preventive maintenance, before the summer got into full peak."

Hernandez said that homeowners in the spring need to start considering air conditioning maintenance and begin budgeting to make sure air conditioning systems can withstand the hot weather.

"If they sense any difficulties, they need to call a licensed contractor to do preventive maintaince to keep it running for rest of the summer," Hernandez added.

The National Weather Service reports that high temperatures are expected to remain throughout the rest of the week and possibly the month. Weather officials say the Rio Grande Valley is averaging a 105-110 degree heat index and will continue to have above normal temperatures.