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Mexico

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By Eric Anderson

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3.28.13

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At least 4,500 hectares of vegetables were damaged by frost in Puebla and Hidalgo, causing consumer prices to jump by over 100% in a mere two weeks, according to ElFinanciero.

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Alejandro Vera Sanchez, Director of the Agrointegrative Producers and Packers of the Valle de Puebla, said that at least 60% of tomatillo and zucchini production has been damaged in the area, resulting in losses over 70 million pesos. The market is expected to feel the resulting high prices for at least a month, at which time production is expected to recover. The state is the second largest producer of zucchini in Mexico and the fourth largest tomatillo producer.

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"It is affecting both production for domestic consumption and export, mainly to the U.S. and Canada, taking into account that the autumn-winter is the period of highest production.”

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Growers don’t expect to receive help from Mexican authorities, thus, the situation presents a huge economic challenge for the majority of growers. To replant fields, growers may have to invest as much as 35,000 pesos per hectare.

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Mexican Frost Update

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