Fresh broccoli from Mexico now plays an important role | Developing an Eastern Broccoli Industry

The Eastern Broccoli Project is intended to supply some of the growth in broccoli consumption in the East. The bulk of supply comes from coastal California in the summer and the desert southwest in the winter. But now, imports from Mexico are playing a greater role.

When the project started in 2009, Mexico was not a significant supplier of fresh broccoli to the East. That has changed. The volume from Mexico to the US is over $200 million per year. The frozen market is almost entirely from Mexico and Central America.

Fresh wholesale value is up from $60 to 250 million. Frozen has risen from $250 to $350 million. — The total value of imported fresh broccoli has quadrupled over the past ten years. Current imports represents about one fourth of the total wholesale volume. That amount can put pressure on prices. Frozen has risen modestly.

The wholesale price has risen from $0.30 to $0.50 since 2008 — The wholesale price of imported broccoli has been rising steadily.

Mexican imports primarily compete with winter production in Florida and Georgia. The volume in the winter months has been rising over the last five winters, more than the summer imports. Growers in those areas are also expressing concern about the effect of the USMCA trade deal, fearing that it would allow dumping in their market.

Eastern production is closer to the Northeast market than either Mexico or the desert, but it is significant. The distance to the terminal market in Bronx NY from Hastings, Florida is 1000 miles in 15h of driving. From San Luis Potosi, Mexico is 2400 miles in 36 hours, and from Yuma, Arizona is 2600 miles in 39 h.

Demand peaks at 60 million pound in January and bottoms in July at 20 million pounds. is fairl — Winter is the peak of fresh broccoli imports, but there is significant volume all year. The quantity shipped in January and February has been increasing most.

Volume varies modestly between 40 and 60 million pounds with peaks in March and October — Frozen broccoli imports are fairly stable throughout the year, reflecting a continuous consumer demand.

There are some facilities to freeze broccoli in New York. Developing a frozen deal for New York growers would be needed for a customer like a school system that specified New York broccoli under the farm-to-school program, but needed ready-to use product in their kitchens during the school year. The frozen-food giant Bonduelle raises and freezes broccoli in Québec, so the economics can be made to work nearby.

Thanks to USDA-ERS economists Kamron Daugherty and Broderick Parr for compiling this important information.