Horticultural imports from Mexico increased from $3.9 billion to $19.7 billion, from 2000 to 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. It equates to an annual growth rate of 7.3% and speaks to the concerns Southeast specialty crop producers have about increased imports from other countries.
Mexico’s horticultural exports were mostly bound for the U.S., accounting for 91% of the country’s exports totals.
Mexico is the largest single source of U.S. horticultural imports. It supplied 63% of U.S. vegetable imports and 47% of U.S. fruit and nut imports in 2023.
To meet the requirements set forth by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Mexico’s horticultural companies modified pieces of equipment, invested in new infrastructure and implemented monitoring programs that featured improved sampling techniques.
Mexico farmers made efforts to comply with the FSMA and helped secure assess to the U.S. markets. There were few, if any, major interruptions in exports, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.