Humberto Ramirez Vazquez, federal plant health deputy, said that they expect to move the bulk of this citrus in the months of October and November, achieving their goal of exporting 34,000 tons.
The price that the ton of limes reaches, he said, will be another factor to take into account for the strong growth of shipments to the U.S., as currently, it is reaching up to 3,500 pesos ( $ 272.74 dollars), which has led the juice factory in this town to come to a stop.
"The growers do not want to sell to them because they are buying at less than 2,500 a ton, as producers have told me, so they are opting to sell them in the United States."
As for the exports limes, he said that fortunately there have been no rejections due to plagues, or pesticide residues, indicating that the risk review systems in Tamaulipas from the field to the packing and transportation processes are efficient.
"We’ve noticed that citrus producers are using the 12 authorized pesticides recommended by authorities, hence, no limes shipment has been rejected."
The measures taken by the entity to prevent the arrival of the HLB or yellow dragon, he said, has allowed the state to one of the few entities free of this plague, as well as of the coffee and aphid leprosis.
These problems, he noted, are only seen in the deep-south, center and north of the country, "which allows Tamaulipas to maintain its position in the international market."
It’s worth noting that the entity began its lime export cycle last July 15 and that it’ll come to an end on December 15 this year. Their main market is the United States and some European countries.
There are 4,000 hectares for the production limes in the municipalities located in Victoria, Güémez, Padilla, Llera and Hidalgo.
