Fresh Produce Season 2024/2025 is officially underway

4 weeks ago 132

PHARR, Texas – The City of Pharr and the Pharr International Bridge held the 11^th annual Start of the Produce Season for 2024-2025, marking the official start of the growing season in Mexico.

Guests from both sides of the border gathered at the port of entry to celebrate the farmers, truckers and everyone in between who help bring fresh produce to consumers in both countries.

Those in attendance included Texas State Rep. Sergio Munoz, Jr.; Rachel Connell, vice president of the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO); Froylán Yescas Cedillo, consul for the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen; Nydia Orue, general director of Cluster Agroalimentario A.C.; José Manuel Samperio, director of food safety and cold supply chain consultant for U.S. Meat Export Federation; and Carlos J. Sanchez, president and CEO of the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce.

In her welcoming remarks, Pharr Assistant City Manager Cynthia Garza-Reyes thanked everyone for their hard work in putting together the event, while emphasizing the importance of the bridge for the region and the nation.

“We would not be the No. 1 produce bridge in the U.S., the No. 1 for avocadoes and pineapples, the No. 2 for berries, and the No. 3 for tomatoes if it wasn’t for you all,” said Garza-Reyes. “The City of Pharr would not be investing over $250 million into this port of entry if it wasn’t for your hard work. So, on behalf of [Pharr] Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez and the commission, we thank you.”

Luis Bazán, bridge director for the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, also praised the Pharr team, calling them the “best” who always look for ways to prove that “more is more.” He pointed to the live broadcast of the event – a first for this year – and the Taste of Trade, a showcase of local restaurant fare made from the very produce that crosses the port. Bazan’s message overall was that of “prosperidad compartida” (shared prosperity) between the U.S. and Mexico, made possible through the bridge.

“We want to highlight the importance of this bridge,” said Bazan. “You know, we talk about investments; we talk about projects; we talk about what we’re doing for the future. Well, we’re continuing to position ourselves, and we continue to push the envelope. If it wasn’t for the growers in Mexico, if it wasn’t for the importers, the customs brokers, the transportation – the entire supply chain – the bridge would not exist right now, and we would not be looking forward to a ribbon-cutting next year for the expansion of the bridge.”

Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), provided some statistics for the audience to demonstrate the impact of the bridge. For eight years in a row, the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge has been the No. 1 port for produce in the country, crossing over 8.5 billion pounds of product in just last year. Galeazzi says this has generated an estimated $25 billion in economic activity and accounts for 168,000 jobs in Texas alone. While the financials are sterling, he stressed the bigger picture of a healthier community where fresh produce is abundantly available.

“The people need to know that fresh produce business in Pharr is huge,” said Galeazzi. “In many ways, we can consider Pharr a gateway – a gateway to better health, a gateway for our communities. The impact of fresh fruits and vegetables crossing here in Pharr means fewer medical issues for our state. It means we’re saving lives. Fresh produce is health and nutrition, and that’s part of why we have to make sure that as a community we continue to build what’s happening here.”

Taking the stage last was special guest Evan Ehlers, founder and executive director of Sharing Excess, a food recovery non-profit. Ehlers started the organization while in college where he witnessed firsthand the food insecurity that many in U.S. face. He said that while 44 million Americans face food insecurity, about 38 percent of the food supply across industries is wasted, with less than two percent of food eligible for donation actually reaching those in need. Through a partnership with Beast Philanthropy, founded by global YouTube superstar MrBeast, Ehlers has been able to expand his operation to save food in recovery centers across the country. As the No. 1 produce bridge, Ehlers expressed gratitude and excitement at the chance to make inroads with the very people who are responsible for getting food to the tables of million of Americans.

“This is such an incredible opportunity,” said Ehlers. “And, first of all, I just want to thank everybody in this room. It’s because of you that we have food at all, and I’m just so grateful and honored to even have an opportunity to speak with you. I’m not running a company. I’m running a mission. This is a non-profit. This is not to make money. This is to make a difference in this world. This is to change lives, and this is to create partnerships and bring as many people together that we can to solve this problem, because it is solvable. This is something that we can do in our lifetime, and everybody in this room has so many resources, and, again, I would be absolutely honored to work with you guys to create the same opportunity, same partnerships that we have been able to create in Philadelphia and New York City and now across 19 states. We would love to bring that to Pharr. We would love to bring that to Mexico and Texas and McAllen. There is so much opportunity here, and we are just beginning.”