Mexico ready to boost exports to Europe
Mexico’s fresh produce sector is confident that a new food safety initiative could help boost the presence of the nation’s fruits and vegetables in European supermarkets.
More Mexican fruits and vegetables could be making their way onto UK supermarket shelves over the next 12 months thanks to a major new agreement signed by industry body Mexico Calidad Suprema and the Mexican government.
Mexico Calidad Suprema, which represents some of the biggest producer groups in the country, has been working with the country’s government to certify thousands of hectares of pineapples, avocados, papayas and mangoes for export to Europe.
Over the course of 2013, the initiative will be enlarged to include products as diverse as berries, bananas, prawns, grapes, pork, beef, broccoli and tomatoes.
Mexico Calidad Suprema has signed an agreement with Mexican food safety authority SENASICA to promote the implementation of the Contamination Risk Reduction System (SRRC) environmental management programme for fruits and vegetables.
Greater SRRC compliance will, in turn, enable greater numbers of growers to achieve Good Agricultural Practice standards MEXICO G.A.P. and GLOBALG.A.P., which are increasingly a prerequisite when it comes to accessing international markets.
As part of the initiative, Mexico Calidad Suprema is helping a number of producers’ groups implement food safety programmes, which include putting in place practices that reduce contamination risks, as well as improving the use and handling of pesticides.
The organization, in conjunction with the Mexican government, is strengthening the safety capabilities of Mexican producers through teaching programmes, technical assistance and the monitoring of contaminants to enable growers to comply with export requirements.
At the current time, the association is working in several areas of the country with leading grower organizations, including 1,505 hectares of pineapples, 185 hectares of papayas, 2,100 hectares of mangoes and 8,900 hectares of avocados.
In total, some 13,142 hectares covering the four product areas will be positively affected by the initiative, which will benefit 530 production sites and 33 packhouse facilities.
According to Mexico Calidad Suprema, the benefits of the exercise will become apparent not just for Mexican producers and packers who are looking to achieve MEXICO G.A.P. certification, but also for European consumers.
“Consumers will have the certainty of knowing they are buying products that comply with the highest standards of food health, safety and quality,” a spokesperson said.
“Mexico Calidad Suprema is helping growers to meet international food safety and quality standards and through this supporting the positing of Mexican products, by giving consumers in Europe a guarantee that the fruits and vegetables are produced under the strictest quality controls, obtained through MEXICO G.A.P. and Mexico Calidad Suprema certification,” the spokesperson added.
About Mexico Calidad Suprema
Mexico Calidad Suprema is a not-for-profit industry association that brings together the principal producer organizations in Mexico along with the Mexican government, which helps growers to achieve international and national quality and food safety standards.
The association was created as a direct result of the need to encourage the consumption of Mexican products both inside Mexico and in export markets through assurances that the products offer the highest quality and are free of risks to consumer health.
Mexico Calidad Suprema, through the MEXICO G.A.P. certificate, has developed diverse strategies to drive compliance with regulations for risk reductions, the environment and social responsibility, through this boosting the supply of safe, high quality products that meet all the demands of the European market.
