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Mexican Produce By The Numbers
Mexico
Friday 07 March 2008
Of the key worldwide exporters of fresh vegetables, Mexico has the highest dollar value of exports and nearly all of those exports come to the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. Mexico is the main supplier of snap beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, onions, bell and chili peppers and tomatoes. Mexico also supplies the same percentage of fruits to the United States as Chile. All of this produce is grown, sourced or imported by companies like Ciruli Brothers, LLC, Nogales, AZ. Today, the third-generation, family-owned company procures and consolidates a wealth of fruits and vegetables, including some unique varieties. “Our lineup includes eggplants, Chinese, Hindu and Italian eggplants, along with colored bell peppers,” says CEO Chris Ciruli. With more than 100,000 square feet of refrigerated warehouse space at international ports in Nogales, AZ and Donna, TX, the company sources a lot of Mexican produce. Once loads are received, inspected and sorted, product continues to warehouses in temperature-controlled trucks, which are monitored for even slight variations in temperature. The company watches crop information throughout the growing seasons so it’s aware of weather events that can affect volumes and prices. “Last year, in October, we had devastating rains, but this year we had a great October,” reports Ciruli. The weather into early November was also good, so he is expecting production this year to be up. Ciruli is just one of many similar importers, consolidators and distributors operating along the border with Mexico. But across the different business models, the process usually includes some form of repacking.
“Most of the product that comes across is repacked within 20 miles of the border,” says John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association, Mission, TX. “Very little of it goes through with straight loads. Typically, trucks coming across get taken to a nearby packer who breaks them down to be redistributed.” According to McClung, the primary crossing point in Texas is Pharr/Reynosa. “In 2005, we brought in 76,577 trailer loads of produce from Mexico through Texas and the great bulk of those, probably 90 percent, came across at Pharr/Reynosa,” he says. “By comparison, Arizona brought in a little over 93,000 loads.” He points out a load is between 40,000 to 44,000 pounds. During peak times in the winter, it’s not uncommon for more than 1,000 trucks to cross the border.
“Most of the product that comes across is repacked within 20 miles of the border,” says John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association, Mission, TX. “Very little of it goes through with straight loads. Typically, trucks coming across get taken to a nearby packer who breaks them down to be redistributed.” According to McClung, the primary crossing point in Texas is Pharr/Reynosa. “In 2005, we brought in 76,577 trailer loads of produce from Mexico through Texas and the great bulk of those, probably 90 percent, came across at Pharr/Reynosa,” he says. “By comparison, Arizona brought in a little over 93,000 loads.” He points out a load is between 40,000 to 44,000 pounds. During peak times in the winter, it’s not uncommon for more than 1,000 trucks to cross the border.
