Mexico: Mexico is the world leader in tomato exports

July 17, 2015

Mexico is positioned as the leading exporter of tomatoes in the world, as a result of a greater impetus to horticulture by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA)

As part of the inauguration of the International Tomato Congress 2015, and representing the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), Enrique Martínez y Martínez, the federal official said that the country has established its position among the major exporters in the world, making it a fruit and vegetable output.

According to statistics Service Agrifood and Fisheries Information (SIAP), during 2014 the annual tomato production was around 2.8 million tonnes, while System Product data indicate that exports amounted to 20,000 million pesos .

Carlos Robles Loustaunau noted that most of the tomato production is exported to the US market, based on the highest standards of quality and safety that have reached Mexican producers, as well as the health status of the country recognized.

He stressed that in recent years has increased the tomato production by about 50 percent, driven by increased agricultural area, protected agriculture systems backed by the FIRCO.

He said that in the case of San Luis Potosi, the state exceeds 1,250 hectares of protected agriculture, of which about 1,000 are tomato; this generates 10,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs status.

“The potosinos tomato growers have to produce it reached approximately 200,000 tons per year and growing presence in international markets, which places the company in second place nationally,” he said.

The general manager said FIRCO SAGARPA has played an important role with incentives for greenhouses, storage facilities and packaging, resulting in strengthening competitiveness.