US (TX): USDA border tracking increase

Over 13 billion pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables cross the US-Mexican border each year. Being able to track food that comes into the US has a number of advantages, including provision of data relating to the importance of each port of entry and assessment of market prices for imports.

USDA’s Market News, the primary market data collection arm of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), recently expanded its collection of data at crossing points along the border in the state of Texas.

Originally all border crossings from Mexico were tracked at one single crossing, but after requests from the produce industry, collection methods were changed to track 10 crossing points all along the Texas border. Produce movement reports now show the produce coming in at Brownsville, Los Indios, Progreso, Rio Grande City, Roma, Pharr, Laredo, Presidio, El Paso, Del Rio, and Eagle Pass.

This helps to create a more complete market picture. The information gathered at these points will allow the US produce industry to make informed decisions about pricing and marketing.

It will allow importers to create forecast plans that better reflect business needs and shipping trends.

For instance, if you want to see the number and frequency of greenhouse tomato shipments coming into the U.S. through Pharr, Texas, page 41 of the report will show you that 22 40,000lb-units came in on February 7th by truck. You will see not only daily movement numbers, but also a running total for the year to date.

Source: blogs.usda.gov