Since the opening of the Mexican superhighway that basically connects the Pacific Ocean produce growing areas with the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, refrigerated truck traffic has gradually increased and more fruits and vegetables are crossing the border into the U.S. at Pharr/McAllen than at Nogales, AZ.
Both truck and auto traffic from central and western Mexico can reach the Pharr International Bridge and enter the U.S. five to seven hours faster than prior to the super highway being completed. lt took 15 years to construct the Mazatlan-Durango highway that has 115 bridges and 61 tunnels.
South Texans love to brag about how the new highway has allowed them to compete with Nogales and point out that within the past year more fresh produce is crossing the border at Pharr/McAllen than at Nogales. South Texas is now the number one point of entry for fresh produce entering the U.S., accounting for 60 percent of the imports. Leading the crossings are avocados followed by tomatoes.
This apparently is just the beginning as some observers are predicting in the next three to five years, produce volume from Mexico crossing the border in the Lower Rio Grande Valley will increase 40 to 45 percent. Besides saving time on shipments originating in Mexico, substantial savings on diesel fuel is cited for shipments destined from markets in the eastern half of the United States.
To accommodate the increasing traffic at the Pharr/McAllen border crossing, new warehousing is being constructed, as well as an expedited lane to the estimated 2,200 trucks crossing the border daily. Truckers pay a toll at the point of entry amounting to up to $23, depending upon the number of axles. Within a few years, truck traffic is predicted to hit 3,000 per day.
Mexican fruits and vegetables crossing the border into South Texas – grossing about $2400 to Chicago; $3800 to New York City.