More Produce Imports from Mexico are Coming

After the interstate highway system was born in the 1950s under the Eisenhower Administration, it allowed the United States to explode in economic power because of its vast coast-to-coast infrastructure in the ensuing decades.

Although it will be on a much smaller scale, we’re going to see something similar with Mexican produce and other goods coming into the United States.

By the end of 2012, a 143-mile cross-continental highway known as the Autopista Durango-Mazatlan is scheduled for completion.  It will reduce travel time from West Mexican growing regions to ports in Texas, including McAllen/Pharr.  This will provide easier, faster access of Mexican products to the eastern half of the United States.

Meanwhile, over $200 million is being invested in expanding the Mariposa Land Port of Entry at Nogales, AZ.  It has a projected completion in 2014.

Another reason I see increasing produce volume to the U.S. from Mexico is because many of the growing operations south of the border are financially backed and/or owned  by U.S. produce growing/shipping operations.  Cheaper labor costs also factor into this growth.

This should result in more loading opportunites for American produce haulers in the coming years.  The unanswered question a this time, is how much of this produce in the future will be delivered by Mexican trucking operations since restrictions on border crossings, and Mexican truckers operating in the U.S., have been loosened.