The Mexican soft fruit sector expects an eight to ten percent growth this year. That sector has expanded significantly in recent years and will continue to do so in 2022. Half of Mexico's soft fruit exports come from the state of Jalisco. It is now Mexico's third-largest agro-export product, after beer and avocado.
Rising production, exports
Mexican soft fruit production and exports have increased rapidly. In the last decade, strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry production have tripled. It went from 257,000 tons in 2011 to 754,000 tons in 2020. The total export value of Mexican soft fruits has even climbed fivefold over that time. In 2011, it was $516 million; in 2020, it was $2.4 billion.
The raspberry export value has risen particularly fast - from $180 million in 2011 to $1.1 billion in 2020 (see the chart above). The Mexican Soft Fruit Exporters Association expects 2021's total export value to exceed $3 billion.
Soft fruit is cultivated in 22 of Mexico's 32 states. Five of those - Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Sinaloa, and Baja California - are the top producers. Jalisco has about 10,000 hectares of soft fruit farms. It contributes 50% of the total export volume. Technology use characterizes that state's cultivation. And growers achieve higher yields per hectare.
This type of farming creates many jobs too. About 720,000 people work in this sector. Between 60,000 and 70,000 of these jobs are in Jalisco.
Growth and challenges
The soft fruit sector's growth is, however, creating challenges. Enough workers need to be found, and adequate inputs supplied. Global logistical problems mean fertilizers, for example, are in short supply.
Congreso Internacional Aneberries
Aneberries organizes an annual international soft fruit congress. It is held in the summer in the city of Guadalajara in Jalisco. This event usually consists of a very interesting conference program and trade fair.
Source: Agroberichten Buitenland