Mango producers of the southern border of Mexico, the country that exports this fruit most, announced on Wednesday a strike for the collapse of prices paid by the packers and intermediaries in the process of national market for the threats of tariffs in the United States.
The peasants of Chiapas will stop cutting the fruit in the municipality of Huehuetán, the main producer of the Soconusco region, of not having a response from the government and the companies involved.
Rosember Velázquez Cruz, representative of the Group of Producers, expressed concern by pointing out that packers and ‘coyotes’ (scammers or extortion) are used and not paid a fair price.
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“We want all producers to stop cutting to request a fair price, which is 500 pesos (about 25 dollars) per box in quality for export. We also ask that they avoid the ‘coyotage’, make direct and fast payments because we see that they are placed on the road bank to offer us a very low price,” he denounced.
Mexico is the fourth producer country and first mango exporter worldwide, with a cultivated area of 221,144 hectares, according to the National Institute of Forest, Agricultural and Livestock Research of the Government.
In Chiapas alone, there are about 6,500 mango producers and there are about 200,000 tons annually for the national and export market, according to Enrique Cabal, president of the Local Association of Frutical farmers of Soconusco.
Santiago Antonio Niño, treasurer of the State Committee of Plant Health (CESAVE), requested a pricing body in the region so as not to fall into manipulation.
While Alfredo Cerdio Sánchez, president of the Ataulfo Mango Regulatory Council, warned of uncertainty for the United States policy, which has made people stop attending consumption centers, the demand for fruit falls and, therefore, decreases the price.
“We are in permanent contact with the Secretariat of the Southern Frontera with the producers and the exporters to find the best conditions for the handle to continue today, it is still cut and exported,” he said.
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The fact reflects the ravages in Mexico of the commercial policies of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who as of April 2 would impose 25% generalized tariffs to all Mexican products.
With EFE information
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