Methods and technology
Frugasa’s Gaona says he’s seen a sizable increase in high tunnels, greenhouses, and shade cloth.
Bonanza 2001’s Salinas concurs, noting that while the protection doesn’t guarantee an issue-free crop, it offers peace of mind that most field cultivation can’t.
“We do worry about hurricanes, but our main concern is quality control and markets,” Salinas shares. “The technology is better now, and the greenhouses are more affordable, so more people are willing to invest.”
Righetti agrees, noting that he sources field- and greenhouse-grown product, and the trend is booming across Mexico despite the often substantial upfront capital investment.
Conditions and yields
Not only does greenhouse growing offer protection from cooler temperatures and inclement weather, it also allows growers to improve conditions in areas with marginal soil types.
“The ability to grow in better conditions means better yields,” Righetti opines. “If you’re buying product down in Mexico, a big percentage of it will be greenhouse; there’s no way around it.”
But it’s not just Mexico that’s seeing a proliferation of protected agriculture. The number of greenhouses going up in the United States, and Canada—North America’s greenhouse titan—has also been increasing, as field growers in these countries segue to greenhouses and the like.
Though it certainly ups the competition, there’s little doubt consumers will come out as the winners with nearly perfect produce, time after time, with less interference from Mother Nature.
The Future is Now
Although major growing regions are well established and expansion tends to be in protected agriculture rather than the open field, Mexico remains a land of opportunity for buyers and sellers alike.
Partnering for profit
With its varying terrain and a temperate climate, Mexico offers U.S. and Canadian grower-shippers and distributors plenty of options for year-round access to a broad range of fresh fruit and vegetables.
That said, weather can still be an issue for many growers, even in Mexico—as evidenced by the recent spate of hurricanes and tropical storms in late summer and early fall.
One of Righetti Farms’ specialties, for example, is melons, which prefer warm and dry growing conditions—but not too hot.
