Nogales, Ariz. – For the 2014-15 shipping season, a produce association in Nogales has reported a total volume of 5.9 billion pounds of fresh produce crossed the border from Mexico. That is the equivalent of 147,500 truck loads weighing 40,000 pounds each.
Ten commodities made up 5.28 billion pounds of that total, with tomatoes and watermelon leading the way through Nogales in 2014-15. About 1.12 billion pounds of tomatoes came through Nogales last season, up from 1.19 billion pounds in 2013-14. Watermelon imports jumped from 1.03 billion to 1.11 billion pounds.
The next eight commodities, by volume, in 2014-15 were cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, grapes, mangoes, chili peppers, melons and eggplant.
Tomatoes, squash and eggplant were the only top ten commodities to see volume declines from 2013-14 to 2014-15.
More than 50 Mexican-grown fruits and vegetables are imported through Nogales.
By volume, tomatoes remain the number one produce item imported through Nogales, but watermelon imports have risen dramatically in recent years, and in the past season watermelon imports almost caught up to tomatoes, according to The Nogales Produce Import Report 2014-15.
The report offers an analysis and comparison of three seasons of fresh produce’s imports through Nogales in volume as well as value as reported to U.S. Customs.
“It is a tool we have developed to help our members understand the overall picture of fresh produce imports and see what their participation in the industry may be. It also may help them understand the tendencies and detect opportunities to explore,” said Lance Jungmeyer, president of Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in a press release.
FPAA created the report, which also includes data from 2012-13, to help its members understand the overall picture of fresh produce imports, Jungmeyer said in the release.
Mexican produce crossing at Nogales – grossing about $3400 to Chicago.