"Mexico is a leading strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry exporter. Production remains on the rise and is expected to surpass 2023 production of 3.9 billion dollars. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast that Mexico would produce 81,000 tons of berries in 2024, i.e. 8% more than in 2023," stated the director of the National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries), Juan José Flores.
After two years of falling exports due to various factors, Mexico's berry production an export will recover this year.
"The past two seasons were very bad because the currency didn't help, prices didn't help, and there were very complicated environmental challenges... There were increases until 2021-2022. Then in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons exports decreased by about 17% due to factors that still need to be analyzed, the currency, and the slowdown caused by macroeconomic issues," Flores García stressed.
Despite the adverse factors, he added, the 63,000 hectares of berry crops in Mexico generate between 500,000 and 600,000 jobs.
"In my case, I have had record production. My partner and I were born here and we grew here. We've seen growth in terms of jobs for our people, our families. 10 years ago there was little work for women and now there is a lot of employment. There is economic spill here," stated Manuel Arriaga, one of the raspberry producers working with Berries Paradise's licensed varieties.
Speaking to El Economista, the company's Supply Director, Alejandro Elizondo, shared that they expected to produce 8 million boxes of berries (2.04 kilograms each) in the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato and Sinaloa, where they have crops.
88% of this production is exported to the United States and 20 other countries in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Berries Paradise works with 140 Mexican producers who provide 50% of the company's production, the other 50% is produced by the agro-industrial company itself.
Source: eleconomista.com.mx