Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda reaffirmed her commitment to the agricultural sector after the state became Mexico's leading region in date production, generating more than half of the crop's national economic value.
According to the governor, Baja California accounts for 50.8 percent of the national economic value from date sales, representing more than 603 million pesos (about US$35.7 million). She pointed to the Mexicali Valley's growing conditions and the commitment of local producers as key factors.
Between 2023 and 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Baja California (SADERBC) trained over 1,500 producers through courses, diploma programs, and specialized workshops on integrated management, production costs, and post-harvest processes. Infrastructure and equipment upgrades have also been implemented, including drip irrigation systems, specialized machinery, and refrigerated storage to maintain fruit quality. The state has further supported business development through rural microindustry programs and access to credit via the Baja California Agricultural Guarantee Fund (FOGABAC).
Currently, Baja California has 2,115 hectares (about 5,225 acres) of date palms, with 1,142 hectares (about 2,820 acres) in production and 973 hectares (about 2,405 acres) still in development. Preliminary yields stand at 8.6 metric tons per hectare (about 3.8 U.S. tons per acre), which is above the national average.
SADERBC head Mónica Vargas Núñez noted that dates, native to arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, adapt well to the warm and dry climate of the Mexicali Valley.
In Baja California, date palm cultivation continues to expand in planted area, production, and value, with producers focusing on meeting international standards. From harvest to packaging, processes are designed to ensure compliance with export and domestic market requirements.
Source: SanDiegoRed
