Despite the pandemic closure, produce is still moving back and forth across the U.S./Mexican border. The industry is finding a silver lining in the travel chaos.
The nation on the other side of this much talked about wall being constructed in south Texas has a lot to offer. Mexico is shipping goods to the U.S. that will make consumers say “muy bien!”
According to Dante Galeazzi with the Texas Produce Association, “Our friends that are doing the importing, they’re bringing produce across. This is really the beginning of the season. We’re going to see things like tomatoes, squash, bell peppers start to increase in volume.”
Also, Mexico has made many improvements in its ag business.
“The production system in Mexico has really improved dramatically over the last ten years,” Galeazzi said. “You’ve seen a lot of investment by U.S. companies down there in Mexico to increase their production, to help to really kind of make it a full twelve month cycle without having to break any supply or reduce any supply to the American grocery stores and food service providers.”
With the border still largely shut down, due to the pandemic and with the construction of a border wall. There is still no more important trade partner for Texas than Mexico.
The border closure has affected non-essential travel, such as people going back and forth to shop, see family, or take in Mexico, but no produce trade is being hindered in any way.
“If anything, it’s somewhat of a, I don’t want to say blessing, but what’s happening is because there’s fewer cars in the line, the trucks are actually crossing the border much quicker, those trucks with produce crop,” Galeazzi said.
He adds that workers are able to go back and forth over the border as well. This is due to their status as essential workers.