In six municipalities in the eastern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the export mango harvest has begun. For eight months, the harvesting, transport, and sorting of the fruit will generate approximately 60,000 direct jobs.
Even with the stricter regulations imposed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an excellent harvest season is expected, generating an economic impact of over $70 million in exports.
Don Manuel, a producer, revealed that this year the U.S. government was more demanding, establishing new criteria for harvesting and collecting the fruit. These requirements have necessitated improvements to the orchards, including sanitation, cleanliness, and humane treatment of the harvesters.
At each of the 14 mango packing plants, mostly located in the municipalities of San Pedro Tapanatepec and Chahuites, USDA inspectors are monitoring the implementation of food safety processes in all areas.
Last season, mango growers produced nearly 190,000 tons of the fruit; in addition to the export of 56,000 tons of Tommy and Ataulfo mangoes, which generated $70 million, plus income from 60,000 direct jobs and another 10,000 indirect jobs.
For mango producers, the challenge each season is to organize production and exports to ensure mangoes are free of the fruit fly, prevent orchards infested with larvae that could jeopardize exports, and increase oversight from the National Service for Agricultural Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA).
Doña María notes that she pays cooperatives 2,400 pesos annually for her eight hectares, plus two pesos per box of mangoes sent to the packing plant. Part of these funds, she explains, goes to the operators who support producers with their food safety campaigns.
Source: eluniversal
