The Texas Tropics

Although Sweet Seasons has offices in both Maryland and California, the bulk of its business is conducted through its South Texas location. “We’ve doubled our numbers year after year for the last four years straight,” Garcia enthuses. “Things are booming here.”

Crossing the Border
While there are several international crossings along the Texas-Mexico border, the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge stands apart from the crowd. Known as the “Intelligent Bridge,” it boasts state-of-the-art technology and processes, offering gamma-ray and x-ray machines for inspections as well as numerous cold storage units.

There are also multiple bridge expansion projects and construction plans on the drawing board that include a truck staging area and additional exit lanes for northbound traffic, a new facility for USDA inspectors, and two more lanes and booths for incoming trucks crossing the border.

Given traffic on the Pharr Bridge is up more than 35 percent in the last year and it is already the number-one crossing in the United States for imported Mexican avocados and number two for tomatoes, future construction projects can’t begin soon enough.

A ‘Fast Lane’ Project
Another new project, called the Border Safety Inspection Facility Connector (BSIF for short) will expand upon the inbound highways from Matamoros and Monterrey by adding a new lane for empty carriers or prescreened and certified cargo under the C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) program, translating to shorter wait times and better traffic flow.

Though the BSIF plan is still in the design stage with a completion date in late 2016, it could have a huge impact for importers, as city planners hope to route nearly a third of commercial trucks coming from Mexico through the new lane, translating to upwards of 800 trucks each day bypassing the often long, laborious import inspection process.

The Bridges of Hidalgo County
The Pharr Bridge may enjoy the most volume in the area, but it’s not the only game in town.

Some importers and shippers are turning to less high-profile crossings like the Progreso Bridge. Why? According to Henry Troppy, Jr., general manager of La Frontera Cold Storage, it’s faster and easier to get across.

With the arrival of more product from the eastern and western coasts of Mexico as well as the Central growing region, border crossings have seen more traffic and accompanying congestion. High traffic translates into delays, and delays cost time and money. This is why the Progreso Bridge is unique among border crossings.