Mexico
January 25, 2013

Source: USDA/FAS GAIN report MX 2006

In the past two weeks, local press and international trade sources have been highlighting damage to vegetable production caused by abnormally low temperatures in southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa, two of Mexico’s most important vegetable production regions. Some 90 percent of these regions’ production is said to be exported to the U.S. via Nogales, AZ.

State government agriculture officials and growers cooperatives continue to monitor the situation. Some affected crops may yet grow out of the damage while other crops had already been mostly harvested. Still, widespread damage has reportedly impacted several growing regions and crops, including tomato, pepper, pumpkin, and zucchini, with open field systems suffering much heavier damage that protected (greenhouse/shade house) installations. The most recent press reports indicated that around 2000 hectares of vegetable production have been impacted while other reports indicate that previously reported damage estimates were not as extensive as originally thought.

Post will continue to assess the extent of damage and provide further reports if warranted.

Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov/

Published: January 29, 2013