Nogales, Arizona, has reclaimed the top spot for Mexican tomato imports.

In 2017, the port of entry in Hidalgo, Texas, edged out Nogales in terms of tomato import values.

But in the two calendar years since, Nogales has been back on top. In 2019, nearly $580 million worth of tomatoes crossed there, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all Mexican tomato imports, according to recent federal trade data.

Nogales produce distributor Jaime Chamberlain says some Mexican growers had been experimenting with Texas ports in recent years instead of shipping through Southern Arizona.

“And it just, it didn't work out financially,” he said. “It doesn't mean that it may work out in the future financially.”

Tomatoes are one of most important commodities crossing through Nogales and represented more than one-sixth of the $3.3 billion worth of fresh produce imported there last year.