Roberta Cook, Ph.D. cooperative extension specialist and lecturer at the University of California, Davis introduced how new technologies and market access is increasing the role of Mexico in global produce trade.
Top leaders from Central and South America also discussed growth, product diversity, food safety and, sustainability, and how their dynamic produce industries create opportunities for global buyers. These leaders included: Maykool Lopez, director general and trade commissioner for the Trade Office of Costa Rica; Diego Diaz, trade commissioner of the Guatemala Trade Office; Karina Amaluisa, trade commissioner of Ecuador; Juan Ariel Reyes, president of Mexico’s AMHPAC; and Conrado Falco, director of the Peru Trade Commission
According to Cook, “more than 85 percent of what Mexico exports in fresh fruits and vegetables goes to the United States, and this has been the case forever, since it started developing an export industry. A little goes to Canada, since Mexico, having a long land border with the United States, is then being able to go on through the United States to Canada, another important market in terms of per capita income. Although small — 32 million people or so — you add to that the U.S. population and you’re talking about a lot of people living in high income countries right next to Mexico with no need to put the products on the shelf. So it makes sense that the U.S. is Mexico’s primary market.”
Mexico has typically been more of a fresh vegetable exporter than a fresh fruit exporter. This factor has made Mexico more dependent on the U.S., and it hasn’t been able to diversity vegetable exports.
Mexico is starting now to develop a growing role relative to Chile, and Chile, only in the last decade and a half, has been developing a growing citrus export industry. Now it has lemons and the easy-peelers.
Protected culture and greenhouse technology is now in vogue, according to Cook. Sinaloa, Mexico is a winter producer and has typically been the biggest tomato exporter to the U.S. Sinaloa open field producers are pursuing protected agriculture. In order to ship year-round, large Sinaloa growers are building higher technology houses in high elevations in Central Mexico. According to Cook’s presentation, AMHPAC states that about 50 percent of the protected agriculture acreage is located in Sinaloa.
Strawberries and blueberries are significant exports from Mexico’s greenhouses. The country recently received market access to China for blackberries and raspberries, and export volumes may amount to 5 to 10 percent of export value.
As Mexican produce exports continues to build its outlets, Cook encourages all producers to think carefully about scaling operations to meet market demand.
The Mexican Association for Protected Horticulture (AMHPAC) represents over 230 certified grower members of premium quality vegetables grown under protected environments throughout 25 states of Mexico. The secretary of agriculture for Mexico estimates 70 percent of protected surfaces grow tomatoes, 16 percent for bell peppers, 10 percent for cucumber, and the remaining 4 percent is for various other varieties. In 2013, about 946,000 tons of produce were exported to the U.S. from Mexico and averaged more than $1.8 million in revenue. The year-round availability, food safety standards, quality, flavor, and competitive prices make Mexico a viable partner for the U.S.
Costa Rica’s generous lands of high mountain ranges, green valleys and endless plains between two seas also offer favorable soil conditions. Agricultural exports represent 20 percent of produce. Pineapple, bananas and melon are top commodity contenders, and rambutan, peppers and chayote support ethnic independent markets.
Ecuador offers more than 69 different types of exportable fruits. Bananas of the Cavendish variety are the main export. Traditionally the development of the agro-export sector has been a key factor in the dynamics of the Ecuadorian economy. The country is one of the most diverse ecosystems in Latin America, which means a wide generic variability to adapt to elevations, temperatures and rainfall. Ecuadorian producers for: pitahayas, uvillas, mangos, papayas, blackberries and other items are scheduled to enter the U.S. market in 2015.
Guatamala has more than 350 microclimates with the combined influence of the Pacific, Caribbean and Atlantic oceans. The region signed many strategic trade alliances and free trade agreements — one of which was the European Union Agreement. Top produce items from the country include: peas, baby vegetables, greens, okra, tomatoes, peppers and sweet corn. Chia, sweet corn and baby corn are among the various up-and-coming items that are of high demand for exports.
Peru’s unique coastal conditions and microclimates make it possible to produce large arrays of both temperature and tropical crops. Grapes and avocados recently entered the list of admissible products into the U.S. in addition to mangos, organic bananas, clementines, citrus and more. Almost 80 percent of Peruvian asparagus is exported to the U.S.
Source: PerishableNews.com
