Citrus producers from Michoacan expressed their objection to the importation of limes that the secretariats of Economy and the Sagarpa are planning to conduct in April in order to bring down the fruit's high prices. Producers said they rejected the measure because it won't solve the underlying problem, which is the speculation by intermediaries. Thus, the producers and consumers will continue to be affected, said Sergio Ramírez Castañeda, president of the Lime Product System in Michoacan.
"Mexico's citrus sector has repeatedly expressed its rejection to the allocation of quotas for the import of limes, a measure that we managed to reverse in 2013, and with which the federal authorities are threatening us again," said Ramirez Castañeda.
He also said the sector had met last Friday in Mexico City to develop a document that would be submitted to the Federation; in it, they explained their reasons for rejecting the measure, as well as the producers' current situation.
"Citrus growers in Mexico are offended because they are blamed for the drop in lime consumption to high and unjustified costs, but the truth is we sell the kilo of limes in Michoacán at an average price that is between 18 and 20 pesos, so the public should be able to buy it at between 26 pesos and 27 pesos, which is not the case," explained Ramirez Castañeda.
The President of the Lime Product System in Michoacan said that Mexico was the fourth largest producer of citrus in the world so there was no need to import a fruit when the country had sufficient capacity to supply the domestic market.
He also urged the Secretariat of Economy and Sagarpa to find and implement steps that would effectively impact the citrus' distribution chains and stop the speculation, which is what raises prices to unreasonable levels.
The SE, in coordination with Sagarpa, will wait to know the volume of the citrus harvest in April, which is expected to stabilize prices. If, however, it isn't enough to supply the domestic market, more fruit will be imported.
Source: cambiodemichoacan