Forecasts are that Mexican exports of fruit and vegetables in 2013 will increase by 4 percent compared to last year, said the chief director of the Marketing Services and Development of Agricultural Markets Agency (ASERCA), Baltasar Hinojosa Ochoa.
During his participation in the PMA Fresh Summit which he attended with the Enrique Martinez y Martinez, representing the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the official highlighted the role played by Mexican fresh produce producers in the U.S. market thanks to the high quality of their product.
He said that in 2012 the exports of fruits and vegetables amounted to U.S. $ 8.814 million, and that estimates for 2013 are that they will reach 9.167 million dollars.
He also said that, in order to maintain this market’s growth, 130 food producers, accompanied by SAGARPA, attended the event in North America.
Mexico is the leading U.S. supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables, about 90 percent of Mexico's fresh produce exports are shipped to the U.S. market, said SAGARPA’s official.
He reported that, on average, the Mexican countryside produces about 8.6 million tons of vegetables each year, 16 percent of the country's agricultural value.
Hinojosa Ochoa explained that the PMAs are made up by producers and agricultural entrepreneurs from 22 states of Mexico such as Michoacán, Veracruz, Jalisco and Sinaloa.
The Mexican product with the greatest presence in this exhibition is the fresh tomato, whose volume sales to the United States increased by 3 percent last year, Mexico supplies 89 percent of the U.S. market tomatoes.
Among others Mexico also exports avocadoes, cucumbers, peppers, chilies, mangoes, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in large quantities.
Source: SAGARPA