Mexican tomato farmers had to pay more than 200 million dollars in taxes in the four months in which the Mexican tomato export tax to the United States was implemented after the end of the negotiation for alleged dumping practices reported by Florida producers.
However, according to Alfredo Diaz Belmontes (the general director of the Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture AC), the quality of the Mexican product is its strongest guarantee; to the point that up to 52 percent of the tomato consumed in the American Union comes from Mexico.
Uncertainty in tomato exports
Mexico's protected agriculture is prepared to face the customs review processes requested by the Americans, which must increase their infrastructure and personnel to verify the more than 3 thousand tons that cross the border each year, Diaz stated.
Crop reduction
Small producers stop betting on this crop because of the commitments to export tomatoes, said Diaz Belmontes. As a result, the planted area is expected to decrease by nearly 10 percent in 2020.
"Right now there are inspections at the border for the tomato brown rugose fruit virus. However, according to the agreement, up to 92 percent of the shipments will be inspected, so basically they will be checking the quality of the tomato we are exporting."
Sinaloa continues to be Mexico's leading producer of tomato, despite the incursion of states like Jalisco in protected agriculture. February 2020 was favorable for this sector, as the rains and low temperatures delayed the production of tomatoes in other latitudes, which resulted in positive prices.
We are talking about differences of up to 50 percent of the average price. This really suits tomato producers that export their product."
Mexican producers
Diaz also stated that the Federal Administration's support for commercial agriculture was non-existent, as they were more focused on corn and contract farming.
However, Diaz Belmontes said he was pleased by the presence and company that the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), Víctor Manuel Villalobos, has shown towards Mexican tomato growers: "We have a lot of empathy from them, but no economic help."
Ultimately, he stressed, this guild's access to traditional banking credits has been facilitated: "Amhpac, for example, has generated a commercial relationship with financing sources for years. They understand our activity and we understand their requirements."
Source: AMHPAC (via El Debate)
