The president of the Association Horticulture and Fruit Producers of Guanajuato, José Aguirre Gallardo, and Virginia Acosta, a member of the Strawberry Product System in Guanajuato, said that strawberry exports between October 2015 and February 2016 had surpassed the prices achieved in the previous years, which barely reached 12 dollars, and had achieved a record price of $23 per 4 kg per box of strawberry; something that, according to Aguirre and Acosta, would boost the growth of the strawberry production chain in Irapuato.
The city, which was formerly known as the Strawberry Capital of the World, ranked third in the production and export of strawberries with 1,842 tons a year, behind Michoacan, with 122,000 tons, and Baja California, with 51,000 tons.
Aguirre Gallardo said that the improvement in prices in the latter cycle was a good sign that the strawberry producers from Irapuato were doing an excellent job regarding the fruit's quality, and that they were offering a better tasting fruit than the other leading export states.
"Baja California has been declining for many reasons, Irapuato is repositioning itself thanks to the high quality of its strawberry and its excellent producers. Additionally, there have been a large number of supports from the Federation to export our strawberry production," he said.
Aguirre Gallardo said the municipal and state governments needed to commit more so they could coordinate with the Federation and provide greater support to the strawberry producers, as aid resources had decreased from 250,000 pesos to 150,000 pesos.
"We need a commitment from the municipal, state, and federal authorities. We need more than photographs and events that promote strawberries, we also need technology and promoting exports. The commitment should be giving technical advice, focusing on Irapuato, for more precise and direct support, "he said.
Seeking to improve the market
Virginia Acosta said that the Strawberry Product System was seeking to improve the market and production of strawberries so that Irapuato could catch up with the production of Michoacan and Baja California.
In addition, the Ministry of Agro and Rural Development (SDAyR) is working in the construction of cold rooms.
