Mexico has opened a new lime nursery in Chiapas state which will produce 1.5 million trees a year making it the largest one in the country.

Chiapas governor Juan Sabines Guerrero, said the new nursery would help generate income for local farmers.

"Producers could obtain MXN90-120,000 (US$7,017-9,356) per hectare of limes. It's a complete circle providing an environmental service to the planet, producing food and generate income for the family."

Persian Lime Product System president César Cortés Bello, described the opening of the nursery earlier this week as an "historic day".

He said it was the country's first nursery to produce more than 1.5 million certified lime plants and there would be contact with packhouses to export the fruit to Asia and Europe.

It's expected within the next four years the nursery will make Chiapas the country's leading lime producing state.

Local government figures estimate there are currently 3,768 producers in the state generaging 15,000 metric tons (MT) of citrus a year compared with just 206 growers in 2006.

www.freshfruitportal.com