A new road route linking the west coast of Mexico with America’s Midwest and East Coast is set to dramatically change the face of fresh produce arrivals into the southern US in the future.
The Mazatlan-Matamoros super highway, dubbed Supervia, which connects Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa to Pharr in southern Texas, officially opened in December, although it is believed small sections are still under construction. Sinaloa provides up to 80 per cent of Mexico’s fruit and vegetable exports to the US.
Bret Erickson of the Texas International Produce Association said there had been a significant rise in the number of Arizona-based importers and brokers who are expanding their operations in Texas. “This is a business decision that makes sense for many of these importers as the new highway in Mexico creates a pipeline into and through south Texas for a faster and less expensive route into Midwest and East Coast markets,” he told AndNowUKnow.
The association, formerly known as the Texas Produce Association, recently changed its name and opened its membership to include international importers.
The new route allows for shorter and faster transit times and means fruits and vegetables arrive to market fresher and with a longer shelf-life. “Saving between six and eight hours at a minimum along with approximately US$800 per load in diesel and driver costs is significant for any company,” Erickson said.
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