For Mexican Produce Growers, Pandemic May Mean Short-Term Demand Surge
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended business around the world. But demand for fresh produce, much of which comes from Mexico, has surged.
As restrictions went into place across the United States last month, many went to grocery stores to stock up on essentials. And that rush was seen in produce demand figures.
“We’re seeing incredible growth,” said Simon Stopol, with Mexican farm financier ProducePay.
At a Friday webinar organized by the Mexican Association of Protected Horticulture, he told attendees that there was double digit demand growth for some products over the same period last year.
And that through the medium term, he expects demand to continue to grow. Job losses and economic contraction in the US could cut into that, but he says the affordability of produce insulates it from dramatic impacts.
Mexico exports billions of dollars of fresh fruits and vegetables to the United States, where some imports — like tomatoes — account for a majority of the domestic supply.
