Despite challenging season for Mexican produce imports, long-term growth continues

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. 

U.S. imports of Mexican fresh vegetables in 2023 totaled $8.5 billion, up 7% from 2022 and 13% higher than 2021, according to USDA trade numbers. For 2023, the USDA reported that Mexico accounted for 69% of the value of U.S. fresh vegetable imports.

By selected commodity, U.S. imports by value of Mexican fresh vegetables (with percent change from 2022) were: 

• Tomatoes — $2.7 billion, up 10%.
• Peppers — $1.5 billion, up 7%.
• Cucumbers — $805 million, up 14%.
• Other fresh vegetables — $756 million, up 14%.
• Lettuce — $497 million, down 13%.
• Cauliflower and broccoli — $438 million, up 8%.
• Squash — $408 million, up 1%.
• Onions — $403 million, down 1%.
• Asparagus — $360 million, down 1%.
• Beans — $129 million, up 17%.
• Celery — $87 million, up 9%.
• Eggplant — $83 million, up 8%.
• Carrots — $81 million, up 15%.
• Cabbage — $61 million, up 3%.
• Peas — $47 million, up 43%.
• Garlic — $40 million, up 13%.
• Radishes — $30 million, up 12%.
• Okra — $13 million, up 3%.

U.S. imports of Mexican fresh and frozen fruit topped $9.8 billion in 2023, up 3% from 2022 and 12% higher than 2021. Mexico’s share of U.S. fresh and frozen fruit imports was 49% in 2023, trade numbers show. 

By selected commodity, U.S. imports by value of Mexican fresh and frozen fruit (with percent change from 2022) were: 

• Avocados — $2.7 billion, down 5%.
• Berries (excluding strawberries) — $2.6 billion, up 4%.
• Strawberries (fresh or frozen) — $1.3 billion, up 6%.
• Citrus — $855 million, up 7%.
• Grapes — $833 million, up 26%.
• Mangoes — $476 million, up 1%.
• Melons — $447 million, up 10%.
• Bananas/plantains — $204 million, down 9%.
• Pineapple — $43 million, down 14%.

Tommy Wilkins, director of Texas sales with Horton Fruit and chairman of the Texas International Produce Association, said the 2023-24 Mexican produce season has been one of the toughest seasons in years. 

Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and squash have traded at some of the highest markets in memory, said. 

“We had some hurricanes come in late last year that either delayed or hampered some of the production as it was going in the ground,” Wilkins said. Additionally, low water levels in reservoirs in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and on the Rio Grande created uncertainty over water availability, he said. 

That uncertainty curtailed some plantings, and all the factors combined to create some gaps in supply, he said. 

At various times, roma tomatoes traded in the upper $30-per-carton range, bell peppers in a range just over $30, cucumbers in the $40-plus range and squash traded in a range around $20 per carton. 

For late February, those price levels are unheard of, Wilkins said. 

In general, Wilkins said harvesting and transportation delays have been rare this season. 

“Overall, it has been a good year,” he said. “There have just been a few pockets of heartburn.” 

Wilkins said Horton Fruit handles avocados, bell peppers and cucumbers on a nearly year-round basis. 

“There could be a four-week gap somewhere depending on weather, but between central Mexico, Sinaloa and some of the other areas we are pretty well going year-round with tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers and cucumbers,” he said. 

Tony Martinez, managing member of Primo Trading Services, said that Mexican onion acreage saw decreases because of water availability. 

“Aside from less acreage being available for the upcoming season, expect [fewer] imports to come into the U.S. due to a very strong Mexico domestic onion market,” Martinez said. “We should be harvesting our first Mexico onions [by early February], and the crop will last until mid-to-late April.” 

Northwest U.S. onion supplies were also at historically low levels in February, which was supporting high prices. 

Meanwhile, Martinez said the Texas onion crop will begin about March 25 and will run through May 15. 

“Despite Mexico and Texas crops overlapping some, we don’t foresee any issues due to demand exceeding available supplies,” Martinez said. 

Storage onion inventories in the U.S. Northwest are low, Martinez said, which has caused demand and prices to be above average. In addition, Martinez said Europe currently has a strong demand for onions, with Asia and Mexico sending onions to Europe to help fill that demand. 

Martinez said consumer demand for onions typically remains strong even in tough economic periods despite recessions in some major economies. 

Mango prices have also been high early this year, but increasing mango volume from Mexico in coming weeks will create prices that are more friendly for retailers to promote and for consumer to purchase, he said.