Latest News From Mexico

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.

Avocados are a rising star in the food world, and Avocados From Mexico has put its own brand on the fruit’s explosive rise.

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.

More than 1,000 growers and industry leaders attended the event, hosted by the Jalisco Avocado Grower and Exporter Association (Apeajal).

The introduction showcases the pinnacle of this year's mango harvest — a selection of the largest mangoes on the market, according to a news release.

Avocados From Mexico is partnering with cupcake bakery chain Sprinkles to launch a Chocolate Dulce De Leche cupcake celebrating National Avocado Day on July 31.

The hass avocado producer says that it is leaning into a thoughtful ripening strategy and its owned Peruvian supply to deliver optimally sized fruit in the summer months.

A Florida group has asked the Commerce Department to dump price agreements and implement antidumping duties on Mexican tomatoes.

Arizona-based melon producer and importer Fresh Farms has weathered spring delays and is expanding its offerings from Hermosillo, Mexico, in the summer months ahead.

The USDA’s annual report on Mexican tomatoes forecasts Mexico’s 2023 fresh tomato production at 3.87 million metric tons, a 2% increase compared with 2022.

“Nature really dealt us a tough hand and we are navigating through it the best way possible. Despite the rocky start, prices will adjust to comfortable levels over the next days or so,” says Carlos Bon.

“H.R. 2 does nothing to help U.S. agriculture and instead throws a longstanding foe in E-Verify in our faces,” California Fresh Fruit Association President Ian LeMay said in a statement.

After a slow start, the grower-shipper anticipates a strong, promotable Mexican melon program headed into the summer months.

The grower says it is the first private company in the Mexican state of Jalisco to receive this conservation certification, which will help preserve and protect various species.

According to research released in February from Texas A&M University, U.S. imports of fruits, vegetables and nuts from Mexico totaled $18.7 billion during 2022.

Cool weather put the brakes on most of western Mexico’s spring crop, delaying the start a bit, but importers say that what the crop may lack in early volume and timeliness will be made up for in quality.

Mexican mango season got off to a slow start this year because of weather issues, but supplies should pick up as the season progresses, importers say.

Mexico asparagus programs for the months of January to March will take a substantial hit due to prolonged cold weather during the growing season, a Mexican grower group reports.

Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Rich River Produce is looking to expand its conventional and organic produce volume considerably this year, says Andrea Duarte, marketing and public relations director.

Total Mexican grape volume for the company should be close to 6.5 million cartons in 2023, up about a million cartons from a year ago.

The 2022-23 season has been more difficult than most, but the Rio Rico, Ariz.-based company is leaning on strong relationships with its growers and a diversified customer base, says CEO Miguel A. Suarez.

Avocados From Mexico has revealed its Big Game Teaser video, featuring actress and avocado lover Anna Faris.

Mexico dominates U.S. imports of many fruits and vegetables, USDA statistics show, with numerous fresh produce commodities showing double-digit gains in value over the last two years.

The Nogales, Ariz.-based company reports good production of colored bell peppers, mini peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash/zucchini.

Because of increased growing costs at its Oxnard, Calif., headquarters, Boskovich Farms Inc. now is producing its fall-winter organic vegetable crop in Baja California, Mexico.

The Laredo port district in Texas is capturing a significant share of northbound produce shipments from Mexico, a new USDA report reveals.

Companies increasingly look to fruits and vegetables grown in other countries that provide ideal growing conditions and a year-round supply of fresh produce.

Avocados From Mexico is partnering with the iconic color swatch company to launch an official avocado green hue.

The strawberry grower-shipper is increasing its presence in Central Mexico the same year that it kicks off its first strawberry season at its Baja, Calif. farm.

Bladimir Moreno, owner of agricultural labor company LVH, led a multistate criminal enterprise and was sentenced to 118 months in prison, according to the Department of Justice.

The organic grower-shipper hosted events at its farm in Sonora, Mexico, including art, music, a ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks from special guest Paul Rice, founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA.

Mexican table grape production is expected to dip 3% in the 2023 season compared with 2022, but exports to the U.S. should remain stable, according to a new report from the USDA.

Colder than normal weather in Sonora during periods in October and November could hold back produce availability in December, says Miguel A. Suarez, CEO of MAS Melons & Grapes LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Divine Flavor’s West Mexican farms are very “program driven” with retailers, said Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for the company.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Frello Fresh expects a very good start to its Mexican winter and spring deal, said Guillermo Martinez, CEO and co-founder.

The goal of Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Fresh Farms is to create “one-stop shopping” for buyers, company officials say.

U.S. imports of Mexican vegetables and fruit through Arizona's Nogales district ports totaled more than $3.86 billion in 2021, up 1% from $3.82 billion in 2020 and up 7% from $3.6 billion in 2019.

Nogales, Ariz.-based EarthBlend will have bagged mini sweet bell peppers grown in Sinaloa from January to June, said Steve Spence, director of sales for EarthBlend.

The Rio Rico, Ariz.-based company imports and distributes watermelons, mini watermelons, honeydew, and conventional and organic hard squash from its farms in Sonora.

The U.S. Trade Representative has declined a 301 investigation request from Florida lawmakers and instead will form an advisory panel to explore ways to assist Southeastern producers.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas has named Bill Sykes, founder and vice president of The Sykes Company, as the 2022 recipient of the FPAA Pillar of the Industry award.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Divine Flavor has announced its new project of summer organic bell peppers in Jalisco, Mexico. 

"This first export of avocados from Jalisco will only improve the already positive economic benefits of avocado imports from Mexico," says Ron Campbell of Mexican Hass Avocados Importers Association.

Immokalee, Fla.-based Lipman Family Farms has recently purchased a 75-acre greenhouse facility in Jalisco, Mexico.

New Rochelle, N.Y.-based LGS Specialty Sales will begin sourcing avocados from Jalisco, Mexico, according to a news release.

The forecast for Mexican table grape shipments to the U.S. has been lowered, according to the Mexican table grape growers association, or AALPUM.

International Fresh Produce Association will convene industry leaders in Guadalajara, Mexico on June 22 - 23 at the Mexico Conference.

Magic Sun Farms (Globalmex International)  is offering a new conventional bell pepper program this year, said David Kyzer, regional sales manager for the Richmond, Va.-based company.

Los Angeles-based Pacific Trellis Fruit expects to handle 2 million boxes of Mexican grapes this season, according to a news release.