Texas port of entry project to speed up produce imports
From
| 21 September 2020
Overview of the fresh fruit imports entering through Pharr port of entry in Texas, complemented by charts from Agronometrics. Original published on September 20, 2020.
Construction has begun on a $40 million project to cut wait times for produce and other agricultural goods at a busy Texas port of entry.
Main fresh fruits entering through Pharr port of entry in Texas
Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
Thirteen of 24 new secondary inspection bays at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge will include cold storage unit equipment to ensure inspections don’t harm produce shipments.
“With the continued increase of imports from Mexico, especially produce-related commodities, that require an inspection from our agriculture specialists, having these additional dock spaces will have a significant positive impact on our ability to expedite the processing time and get shipments on their way into U.S. commerce,” Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas director, said in a news release.
Prices (in USD) of pears from Washington in the US market
Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, General Services Administration and City of Pharr, Texas, formed a partnership that allows the city to donate to the project.
“The additional cold storage bays will also serve proactively in maintaining the integrity of certain products while they are inspected in climate-controlled areas, rather than exposing them to the South Texas heat,” Rodriguez said in the release.
A 10,000-square-foot inspection and training facility will enhance the Custom and Border Protection’s agricultural specialist ability to detect pests, diseases and related testing on agricultural products.
The port processed nearly 1,800 commercial trucks transporting an average of more than $13 million worth of agricultural products each day in fiscal year 2019, according to the release, which is nearly 15% of all fresh produce imported into the U.S.
“The City of Pharr remains committed to working with our federal partners to identify and implement innovative methods to expedite traffic and trade at our international port of entry, making border crossings and inspections function more effectively while helping our trade partners process and cross their goods more efficiently,” Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez said in the release.
The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.
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