Mexico's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) has announced it will be promoting the construction of an irradiation plant in the country's northeast, with the aim of supporting citrus exports.

In a meeting with citrus growers and federal legislators, SAGARPA chief José Calzada Rovirosa said the plant would allow the industry to increase its supply available for foreign markets, particularly the United States.

He said the citrus sector was a priority for the country, highlighting the new infrastructure would allow producers to comply with the phytosanitary requirements set by many international markets for importing the fruit.

Calzada Rovirosa also mentioned Mexico was one of the world's top five citrus producers.

Agri-food and Fishing Information Service (SIAP) data places Mexico's lime production at 2.1 million metric tons (MT), oranges at 4.5 million MT and tangerines at 194,000MT.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com