Strawberries led Mexican ag export growth in March
![Strawberries led Mexican ag export growth in March Strawberries led Mexican ag export growth in March](https://cdn.freshfruitportal.com/2020/01/News-shutterstock_356279348.jpg)
Strawberries, peppers and avocados were Mexico's strongest performers in agricultural export growth in March, according to statistics released by the country's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
The institute registered a 9.8% overall increase in exports from Mexico's agriculture and fishing sector, reaching US$1.275 billion.
Strawberry export values grew by 49.9% year-on-year, followed by peppers (47.4%), avocados (42.2%) and citrus fruits (35%).
A statistical category that encompasses melons and papayas also showed growth, at 30.5%.
Some other horticultural items did not prove as lucrative however, with coffee export values falling by 44.1%, onion and garlic values down by 36.3%, and the category of legumes and fresh vegetables dropping by 9.4%.
The growth rate for March was above the 3% rate for the first quarter itself, with agricultural export values of US$6.43 million, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock , Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).
SAGARPA said the country traded 290 agri-food products overseas in a total of 160 countries. The main markets for the first quarter were the U.S., Japan, Canada, Venezuela and Guatemala.
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