Members of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) in the US say winter vegetables arriving from Mexico will reach the “Gold Standard” this season.
At a recent meeting, distributors noted the consistently good weather and strong plants in Mexico this season, saying that “quality”, “quality”, and “quality” are the key words to describe the winter vegetable crop that will cross through Nogales, Arizona, into the US.
“The coming weeks and months are beautiful promoting opportunities for retailers across the country,” explained FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer in a press release.“Everything we are seeing in Mexico shows healthy plants, nice yields, and great quality.”
Many products are currently reaching maturity in Sinaloa, Mexico, and consistent supplies are expected to continue through April and into May, with tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant (aubergine), green beans, and other items.
“Because of the gift of perfect weather we have experienced in the growing regions this year, crops out of Mexico will maintain their high quality throughout the supply chain,” said Mr Jungmeyer.
“Buyers will not see rejections caused by weather inconsistencies that have affected some growing regions. If buyers are driven by quality, then supplies from Mexico should be the top choice this year.”
US importers are expecting similar volumes to the 2010 winter crop. This means that Mexico will provide enough supply for consumers to continue enjoying the health benefits of the winter vegetables they have come to expect.
“The real story is Mexico is here to fill a huge demand segment by itself if needed, and the quality coming off the plants is stellar,” Mr Jungmeyer added.
