First shipment of bell peppers is exported following years of negotiations
Mexico has exported its first shipment of bell peppers to Japan, marking the successful conclusion of a 16-year process.
According to Mexico’s service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality (Senasica), the first shipment of 733kg originated from Sinaloa.
This shipment comes after 16 years of negotiations and technical discussions with specialists from the Asian country. Senasica demonstrated —with scientific research— that bell peppers are not susceptible to tobacco blue mold, which was the main concern of the Japanese health authority and the protocol was signed at the end of 2025.
To date, 20 properties and 11 packing plants from Coahuila, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Sinaloa have registered to participate in the export protocol, and more interested parties in that market may gradually join.
Currently, the main markets for Mexican bell peppers are the US and Canada.
Mexico already exports asparagus, grapes, strawberries, avocados, tomatoes, mangoes, and vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, to Japan. Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said this milestone reaffirmed Japan’s trust and recognition of Mexican produce and the department’s commitment to diversifying international markets for the benefit of Mexican producers.
