Michoacan is the second largest producer of melons in Mexico, with a cultivated area of 3,153 hectares and an estimated annual production of 113,508 tons, just below the state of Coahuila.
Francisco Huergo Maurin, the head of the Ministry of Rural Development and Agricultural Food (Sedrua), spoke about the ranking and added that the municipalities of Huetamo and La Huacana concentrated the largest area of cultivation with 1,820 and 840 hectares, respectively, according to data from the Agricultural food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP).
Others areas that cultivate melons are Coahuayana, with 96 hectares, San Lucas with 140, and Tuzantla with 120 hectares. Churumuco and TumbiscatÃo also grow melons but have a smaller surface area devoted to this crop.
Since melon crops have increased in the state, expectations are that it will surpass the 4,224 hectares that the state of Coahuila has in a few years.
Regarding exports in 2015, Huergo Maurin said Michoacan's agricultural sector exported 1,051,203 tons of fruit and vegetables to 41 countries worldwide, i.e. 33 percent more than in the previous year.
The head of Sedrua said that, with these exports, Michoacan ranked first nationally, regarding its production value, for the seventh year in a row. He also said the state had exported 46 agricultural products to countries in America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
He said the increase in agricultural exports was due to the great commitment that the producers have to produce higher quality and to meet phytosanitary health and safety standards.
The state official said that the avocado was the state's flagship product, as it accounted for 91 percent of exports and Michoacan exported 953,123 tons of avocados, in its various forms: fresh, pulp, guacamole, and powder.
In 2015, avocado exports to the American continent amounted to 934.769 tons, while exports to Asian nations totaled 81,951 tons; to countries in Europe 34,434 tons, and to nations in Oceania, 88 tons.
The main products exported include: melons, with 18,560 tons; Persian lime, with 16,501 tons; grapefruit, 15,113 tons; blackberry, 13,966 tons; Mexican lime, 10,532 tons; mango, 9,556; raspberry, 3,658; papaya, 3,157; carambolo, 1,512 tons; and blueberry, 1271, among others.
In the last decade Michoacan's agricultural export volume has been as follows: 2005, 284,187 tons; 2006, 267,441 tons; 2007, 332,462 tons; 2008, 442,911 tons; 2009, 499,411 tons; 2010, 399,041 tons; 2011, 513,139 tons; 2012, 632,868 tons; 2013, 716,086 tons; 2014, 790,231 tons; and 2015, 1,051,203 tons.
Source: mimorelia.com