Reports coming out of some of the most important vegetable-growing regions in northern Mexico indicate that abnormally low temperatures have damaged crops there. The affected areas stretch through the northern part of Sinaloa and the southern part of Sonora.
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, the complete extent of damage to crops is uncertain. Mexican government officials continue to monitor the situation, and although some reports have the affected areas totaling 2,000 hectares, no one is sure how large the affected area is or how extensive the frost damage.
Tomato, pepper, pumpkin and zucchini crops have been affected, though it's not clear to what extent some of these crops may be able to grow through the damage incurred over the past several weeks. Most agree, however, that open field crops suffered the most damage when compared to crops grown in protected agricultural installations.
90 percent of the vegetables grown in the affected areas are exported to the United States.