Tex-Mex Trading: The Rio Grande Valley – Part II: Commodities Coming and Growing

Each year, Reyes says the districts’ needs change, including the types of produce and the packages themselves. Most schools prefer some sort of single-serve portion, he notes, and are expanding their reach in fruits and vegetables to include more exotic offerings “such as star fruit, edamame, baby kiwi, snow peas, and sugar snap peas.”

New school requirements this past year included single-serve portions in both two- and three-ounce packages. Until the end of October, Nicho Produce had been packing all the orders by hand, but new machinery is now handling all single-serve portions requested by schools.

By the Numbers: Pharr International Bridge
The Pharr International Bridge has seen a gradual climb in northbound crossings, receiving more shipments of fresh produce bound for Midwestern and Eastern Seaboard wholesalers and retailers.

On the flip side the City of Pharr continues to flourish with increased revenue due to growing southbound crossings, where tolls are imposed.

In addition, projections for the next five years continue to climb—for both the number of crossings and with planned improvements and expansion of the bridge itself. Here’s a look at the bridge from a numerical point of view:

Averages:
• $3,000 and 16 hours in round-trip savings
• 120,000 vehicles crossing per month

Rankings:
• Nation’s largest land port for fresh produce­
• #1 in the nation for importing avocados
• #2 in the nation for importing tomatoes

Statistics:
• 60% of product passing through Pharr is perishable
• 59% of American produce imports from Mexico pass over the Pharr Bridge

Crossings & Revenue for 2015-2016:
• 7.76% increase in total bridge crossings
• 9.04% increase in car crossings
• 5.83% increase in southbound truck crossings
• 6.53% increase in northbound truck crossings
• $1,080,968 revenue for the fiscal year
• 10.46% increase in revenue

Five-Year Projections:
• 59% increase in new truckloads
• 62% increase in commerce for the state of Texas
• 50% increase in imports from Mexico
• Dock expansion for 60 more trucks
• Cold Storage space increased by 1,000 to 3,000 square feet

Source: Pharr International Bridge. For more information, visit www. bridge.pharr-tx.gov/.

Images: Foodpictures, Karin Hildebrand Lau, 3RUS, Artgraphixel/Shuterstock.com

Read Part I
Read Part III