Business as usual has hit a major roadblock, quite literally, for one fresh produce export heavyweight. In recent days Guatemala has faced a series of has logistical delays due to the political unrest in the region.
According to the Guatemala Produce Trade Association, local news is reporting that political protests and demonstrations have intensified and resulted in road closures throughout the country. These road blockades have created a domino effect in some areas, leading to fuel shortages along with highway traffic delays and complications. On Oct. 12, NPR reported that eight days of peaceful protests in Guatemala have turned violent.
As a result of the blocked roads and protests, many Guatemalan fresh fruit and vegetable exports are experiencing major logistics challenges and delays.
U.S. consumers rely on fresh fruits and vegetables grown Guatemala; in 2022 alone, the U.S. imported over 6 billion pounds of fruits and over 305 million pounds of vegetables from the country, according to the USDA.
Can fresh produce purveyors expect regular shipments of exports to resume from Guatemala anytime soon?
“As GPTA, we are severely impacted both emotionally and professionally due to the political issues that are transpiring in Guatemala,” Priscilla Lleras, GPTA executive director, said in a news release. “As news becomes available — we will make every effort to keep industry and our customers informed. Until this situation subsides, we have our prayers and hearts going out to those on the front lines in Guatemala.”
Another downstream effect of the political unrest, according to the GPTA, is that the regional chaos has “forced many maritime and trucking companies in Guatemala to reconsider and restructure operational strategies until they can secure measures that can be implemented to protect the Guatemalan people and the lives of those operating transits and logistics.”
Despite challenges, several GPTA members still plan to attend the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 19-21, to display and discuss products and services, according to the release.
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