West Mexico growers faced a tough fall/winter season, but distributors believe things are looking up for spring with increased supplies and more reasonable prices.
San Juan, Texas-based distributor Grande Produce spotlighted the variety during the Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase, held March 25-26.
The companies have joined with leading Mexican growers to provide 4 million cases of table grapes during May and early June, which is traditionally the lowest volume period of the year.
The event, set for May 22-23 in Guadalajara, is a strategic opportunity for those who do business in Mexico or who wish to do business there, with a gathering of professionals throughout the fresh produce supply chain.
Hurricanes last fall, recent drought and other factors have held back some fresh produce output in Mexico in recent months, but the value of U.S. imports from the country continues to climb.
The U.S. imports virtually all its fresh mango supply. Mexico was by far the leading mango supplier to the U.S. in 2023, followed by Peru, Brazil and Ecuador.
The upcoming 2024 Mexican mango season is poised to be a record season as more retailers understand that mangoes can be positioned all summer long, says Tim Beerup, mango consultant for Mission Produce, Oxnard, Calif.
The U.S. and Mexico will work to stop imports of avocados from illegal orchards in Mexico, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a news conference with Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramirez.
La Escuela de Asociados, which is Spanish for the School of Associates, is a key component of Grupo Alta's recruitment process when new workers from the southern states of Mexico migrate north for employment.
Rio Rico, Ariz.-based SunFed expects to move slightly more Mexican produce in 2024 compared to last year, despite weather challenges early in the year.
The company has an organic mango program, as well as an organic valencia and grapefruit program that supplies the market demand from November through June, says Jason Laffer, vice president of sales.
Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Ciruli Brothers is aiming for a 10% increase in its volume of Mexican produce this year, said Chris Ciruli, chief operating officer.
Imports of Mexican tomatoes through all U.S. ports totaled $2.49 billion from January through November 2023, up 1% from calendar year 2022 imports of $2.48 billion, up 5% from $2.38 billion in 2020.
As importers argue for its preservation, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott has reiterated his request for the immediate termination of the 2019 tomato suspension agreement.
Using duties to replace the suspension agreement that regulates U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes would make things far worse for the U.S. tomato market, says Javier Badillo of the FPAA in this guest column.
U.S. imports of Mexican tomatoes through all ports in 2022 totaled $2.48 billion, and this Texas port district accounted for 57% of all Mexican tomato value.
In mid-November, Nogales, Ariz.-based EarthBlend was receiving a steady supply of Sonoran soft squash and cucumbers, and Sinaloa volume was about to kick in, says Steve Spence, director of sales.
In Mexico, "growers throughout the country use greenhouses, shade houses, high-tunnel systems, and other climate-control technologies to supply the U.S. market year-round,” the report said.
U.S. imports of Mexican fresh vegetables enjoyed a strong year in 2022-23, however, USDA numbers say the value of U.S. imports of Mexican fresh fruit was flat compared with 2021-22.
Availability of water in growing regions is one concern for Mexican produce growers and distributors this season, says Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
Year-round programs, snacking commodities, organics and flavor are all trends for Mexican produce — and all are important to the Divine Flavor brand, says Michael DuPuis, quality assurance manager.
Dana, Calif.-based Stonehill Produce has a year-round supply of Mexican avocados and offers its customers trusted intelligence on the avocado outlook, says Keith Slattery.
With strong Mexican fruit volume, Los Angeles-based Giumarra provides a year-round supply of avocados to retail and foodservice clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Cotija Avocados is diversifying its offering into organics and value-added services, says Bryan Prihoda, president and chief financial officer of the hass avocado supplier.
Calavo's packinghouses in Michoacán and Jalisco are "the foundation of our Mexican avocado sourcing programs,” says Peter Shore, vice president of produce management.
Oppy’s marketing plan for Mexican avocados centers around the pillars of sustainability, high quality and reliability, says Rodrigo Lopez, category director of citrus and avocados.
With all eyes on football, Naturipe is ready to support promotions that Avocados From Mexico is launching, says Andy Bruno, president of Naturipe Farms' avocado division.
The 2023-24 Mexican avocado season is expected to produce plentiful volumes of excellent quality for both conventional and organic avocados, says Monica Robles, Mission Produce's director of Mexico sourcing.
With 2,900 acres of high-density avocado groves in Jalisco, Grupo Los Cerritos is the leading avocado exporter from Jalisco, says Sophia Cavaletto, sales representative.
Avocados From Mexico can see wonderful accomplishments in the rearview mirror, but President and CEO Alvaro Luque believes the future will be even more spectacular.
U.S. distributors of Mexican tomatoes are pushing hard to blunt the effort by domestic producers to terminate the 2019 Suspension Agreement between Mexican tomato producers and the U.S. Commerce Department.
San Antonio-based NatureSweet is warning that ending the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement could add tariffs of more than 20% on the imports of fresh tomatoes into the U.S.
Check out these scenes from Avocados From Mexico's Oct. 3 party celebrating the group's 10-year anniversary and the opening of its AVOLAB chef innovation center.
The supplier’s proprietary raspberry varieties out of the central Mexico growing region are projected to have another year of exponential growth in the 2023-24 season.