Mexico looking to develop terminal markets
Mexico looking to develop terminal markets
PHILADELPHIA -- Mexico has a new focus on developing its terminal markets, according to Alfredo Neme, president of the National Terminal Markets Confederation, which uses the Spanish-language acronym, CONACCA A.C., and is based in Mexico City.
Mr. Neme spoke in Philadelphia with The Produce News as he and his colleague, Fernanda Padilla, business secretary of Central de Abastos de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico, attended the North American Produce Market Managers' meeting held recently, here.
Mr. Neme said that the Mexican federal government has largely neglected Mexican produce terminals for the last 30 years. But now there is a renewed awareness of the importance of developing these markets.
He said that large growers can enjoy sales to supermarket chains within the prospering Mexican economy.
Five million smaller growers, however, lack the infrastructure to reach the many small independent stores that still exist in Mexico. But on Jan. 1, 2008, Mexico enacted legislation to improve national terminal markets.
One of the grandest terminal market plans is that of Ms. Padilla, whose family owns Central de Abastos, which is now in the planning stages to become a major food distribution center serving Tijuana and northern Mexico. Construction is to begin in the second half of 2008.
This intermodal hub facility will provide full food logistics services, including distribution, packaging, labeling and accommodations for international trade. Ms. Padilla said that her food distribution center will eventually work in cooperation with a new $4 billion deep-water port, Punta Colonet, which is being positioned as a rival to the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.
"Obviously, we will work very closely with the federal government to promote exports," she said. Central de Abastos will work to accommodate both imports and exports of fresh produce, she added.
Ms. Padilla said that Mexico is in the process of upgrading its railroad service, which, with other national improvements, will help lower delivery costs for domestic growers. She said that Chilean growers can deliver produce to Mexico with less expense than can growers in some remote parts of Mexico.
Mr. Neme spoke in Philadelphia with The Produce News as he and his colleague, Fernanda Padilla, business secretary of Central de Abastos de Tijuana in Tijuana, Mexico, attended the North American Produce Market Managers' meeting held recently, here.
Mr. Neme said that the Mexican federal government has largely neglected Mexican produce terminals for the last 30 years. But now there is a renewed awareness of the importance of developing these markets.
He said that large growers can enjoy sales to supermarket chains within the prospering Mexican economy.
Five million smaller growers, however, lack the infrastructure to reach the many small independent stores that still exist in Mexico. But on Jan. 1, 2008, Mexico enacted legislation to improve national terminal markets.
One of the grandest terminal market plans is that of Ms. Padilla, whose family owns Central de Abastos, which is now in the planning stages to become a major food distribution center serving Tijuana and northern Mexico. Construction is to begin in the second half of 2008.
This intermodal hub facility will provide full food logistics services, including distribution, packaging, labeling and accommodations for international trade. Ms. Padilla said that her food distribution center will eventually work in cooperation with a new $4 billion deep-water port, Punta Colonet, which is being positioned as a rival to the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.
"Obviously, we will work very closely with the federal government to promote exports," she said. Central de Abastos will work to accommodate both imports and exports of fresh produce, she added.
Ms. Padilla said that Mexico is in the process of upgrading its railroad service, which, with other national improvements, will help lower delivery costs for domestic growers. She said that Chilean growers can deliver produce to Mexico with less expense than can growers in some remote parts of Mexico.
