The murder of Bernardo Bravo Márquez, president of the Apatzingán Valley Citrus Growers' Association, has once again highlighted the impact of organized crime violence on rural Mexico. His death this week reflects the challenges faced by many lemon, avocado, and tomato farmers in regions where extortion and 'derecho de piso' are common.
Lemon, a key ingredient in Mexican cuisine, has also attracted the attention of criminal organizations. As the world's second-largest lemon producer, Mexico exports up to 749,000 tons of lemons each year, making it a vital source of income for farmers and middlemen alike.
However, beneath its commercial success lies a deeply rooted system of extortion. In recent years, criminal groups have imposed quotas on producers, known as "derecho de piso," that can amount to half of producers' profits. Those who refuse to pay face threats, orchard burnings, or even attempts on their lives.
Beyond the immediate economic benefit, these practices serve a strategic purpose: To control routes, collection centers, and distribution networks, while financing criminal groups through the purchase of weapons or the corruption of local authorities. Therefore, extortion becomes not only a source of income but also a tool to strengthen territorial and political power.
The effects are felt throughout the entire production chain. Violence and harassment directed at growers increase prices, disrupt supplies, and cause instability in the domestic market, affecting both producers and consumers.
Organized crime is not only taking a share of the value from Mexican lemons but also threatening the sustainability of one of the country's most iconic agricultural industries.
Source: cronica.com.mx
