Weather and other factors have caused a few hick ups with imported Mexican produce so far this year, while overall volume has been perhaps a little lower, but decent.
Horton Fruit Co. Inc., based in Louisville, KY, also has an office in Irving, TX. It reports the 2023-24 Mexican produce season has been very difficult, with volume affected, resulting in some of the highest markets on record for tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and squash.
Hurricanes late last year adversely affected plantings, plus low water levels in reservoirs in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and on the Rio Grande created uncertainty over water availability.
For late February, those price levels are unheard of, Wilkins said.
But overall, harvesting and transportation delays have been rare this season.
Horton Fruit handles avocados, bell peppers and cucumbers on a nearly year-round basis.
Between central Mexico, Sinaloa and some of the other areas Horton Fruit is mostly going year-round with tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers and cucumbers.
Primo Trading Services of McAllen, TX, reports Mexican onion acreage has decreased due to the lack of enough water.
Due to this problem the company expects fewer imports by the U.S. as well as a very strong Mexico domestic onion market. Primo harvested its first onions in early February], and will continue until mid-to-late April.
Northwest U.S. onion supplies were also at historically low levels in February, which was supporting high prices.