MEXICAN PROTECTED HORTICULTURE - QUICK FACTS
Protected Horticulture includes all produce growing systems under structures designed to eliminate or minimize the impact of environmental conditions. Protected horticulture includes greenhouse (plastic or glass), net or shade house, macro and micro tunnels and thermal plastic-metallic covers.
Mexico’s Protected Horticulture has grow from 3,214 has (7,900 acres) in 2005 to 9,948 has (24,600 acres) in 2008. Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa and Jalisco states account for 71% of the total acreage of protected horticulture.
AMHPAC, the National Protected Horticulture Association represents 150 companies located in 21 Mexican states, totaling 8,650 acres. This is over 35% of the total production under protected horticulture in Mexico.
44% of acreage of Mexican Protected Horticulture is greenhouse and 51% is net or shade house.79% of greenhouse acreage is under medium or high tech production systems. Yield ranges from 65 tons/acre for low tech up to 243 tons/acre for high tech greenhouses.
In Mexico, Protected Horticulture Systems currently sustain 8,800 direct employees and 20,000 indirect employees.
Main products from Mexican Protected Horticulture are tomato, bell pepper, hot peppers and cucumbers. Other products are eggplants, melons, and some specialties. 90% of production is dedicated for export, mainly to the U.S. Canada receives less than 5% of Mexican exports of produce from protected horticulture.
In 2008, the United States imported 748.3 thousand tons of protected horticulture products from over 35 countries, totaling $1.3 Billion dollars. Mexico represents 55.4% of the volume imported by the U.S. and 68.9% of the imported value in this category for 2008.
In 2008, Mexico exported 515.7 thousand tons of tomato, bell pepper, hot peppers and cucumbers to the U.S., totaling $694.9 Million dollars.
In 2008, exports of Mexican Protected Horticulture produce reaches 31.5% of the volume exported from open field horticulture (6.6% in 2003) and 49% of the value of open field products (10.5% in 2003).
In 2008, exports to the U.S. increased 24% in value and 34% in volume from 2007. Annual growing rate of imported produce into the U.S. from Mexican Protected Horticulture from 2003 to 2008 is 43% in value and 41% in volume.
Mexico’s protected tomato exports to the U.S. in 2008 accounted for 341.9 thousand tons with total value of $471.6 million dollars. This represents a 14% increase from 2007 and a 43% annual increase rate since 2003.
Mexico’s protected bell pepper exports to the U.S. in 2008 accounted for 149.7 thousand tons with total value of $201.1 million dollars. This represents 72% increase from 2007 and a 70% annual increase rate since 2003.
Mexico’s protected cucumber exports to the U.S. in 2008 accounted for 16.6 thousand tons with total value of $11 million dollars. This represents a 10% increase from 2007 and a 48% annual increase rate since 2003.
Mexico’s protected hot peppers exports to the U.S. in 2008 accounted for 7.3 thousand tons with total value of $11.1 million dollars. This represents a 52% increase from 2007 but a 13% annual reduction rate since 2003, due to a switching of the production units to more profitable products, like bell peppers.
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