According to Juan José Flores, the general director of the National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries), domestic consumption is increasing. Currently, according to data from the entity, Mexico's per capita berry consumption stands below one kilo per year, so there's ample opportunity to grow.
The expansion to new markets, such as China, is a process that is still progressing slowly, Juan José Flores stated.
"We had projected that we'd send 5% of the production to China, but the tariff issue was not managed at the same time; it's been very slow because we don't have a free trade agreement with them," he said. The tariffs for blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries stand at 16, 25, and 25%, plus taxes, which reduces profitability.
While we open markets for these fruits, we must strengthen the national market and integrate a single region to distribute the fruits, he added.
In addition, logistics costs and the strength of the peso limit the product's mobility to markets outside North America, he added.
Source: elvigia.net