Mexican garlic giant Los Rancheros Hermanos Narváez has branched out into the carrot trade, a move that enables the firm to rotate its garlic fields with a product that is demanded in a range of sizes on the US and Mexican markets.
To consolidate the project, the firm has constructed a packhouse at its Aguascalientes base.
“The new facility can pack 100 tonnes of carrots a day,” explains Sergio Narváez Avila, who is quick to point out that Los Rancheros will continue to supply a significant volume of top-quality garlic to its clients in Mexico and abroad.
“In 2013 our garlic production is estimated at approximately 4,000-5,000 tonnes, of which we will export around 50 per cent, with the balance going to the local market,” he explains.
“To date the weather has been very favourable for the production and harvesting of garlic. If it continues through June, then Mexico will offer excellent quality across all varieties –white pearl, purple, purple striped and early California.”
Narváez says quality and food safety remain the two most important factors for Mexico’s garlic industry with regards to the European market. “Europe continues to prefer our garlic. Along with other Mexican companies we are aiming to continue growing and increasing our sales.”
Ultimately, as Narváez points out, marketing conditions will depend on China, the world’s principal garlic producer, whose offer tends to dictate prices. “It’s important to realise that today there are markets which prefer Chinese garlic and others which prefer garlic from other origins, so we always have the opportunity to supply the latter with quality and food-safe garlic.”
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