The Fruit Growers News


Shipping more Michigan apples (manzanas) into Mexico is the goal - and not just Reds and Goldens. A group of Michigan shippers have found that Mexican importers are very interested in Michigan varieties such as Empire and Jonathans. They’re interested in varieties that they can’t get from other sources, according to Don Armock, from Riveridge Produce Marketing in Sparta, Mich. “We have some varieties they don’t have,” he said. Armock coordinated a trip to Mexico with a group of Michigan shippers in late January. He traveled to Guadalajara and Mexico City with Norm Klein from Jack Brown Produce, Tom Pletcher from BelleHarvest Sales and Bruce Heeren from Heeren Brothers Apple Storage to meet with importers in one-on-one meetings at their places of business.
Despite a short U.S. crop this year and a tariff of 46% on Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples, Armock will ship apples to Mexico this year. An inspector from Mexico arrived in Michigan in mid-February and Armock expected his first shipment of apples to Mexico would leave Michigan the last week of February. Many shippers plan to follow the Mexican protocol and ship apples next year. “We’ll store apples and hope that next year is a possibility,” said Heeren about shipping to Mexico.
“Here in Michigan we’ve been trying for about 10 years to get our apples to Mexico,” Armock said. Work done by the Michigan Apple Committee (MAC) has now positioned apples to be shipped to Mexico. Grants awarded to MAC will help fund on-site inspectors from Mexico, which is required under the country’s protocol.
Funds secured by MAC and the USApple Export Council (funded by the U.S. Apple Association) helped pay for the shippers’ trip to Mexico and a reverse trade mission of six importers to Michigan in February. While in Gudalajara and Mexico City, the country’s two largest areas, the group visited with 11 importers and four supermarket operators. Most of the importers were also wholesalers who sold to everyone from street vendors to individual stores and supermarket chains, according to Armock. “The most eye-opening thing to me was the very high quality fruit that they’re selling,” said Heeren. He said consumers in Mexico eat 10 times as much fruit compared to consumers in the United States. “They love fruit. They like high quality fruit,” said Heeren. Mexican buyers are interested in Michigan apples as a competitive strategy, according to Armock. During January through June, when Michigan aims to export apples, Mexico’s primary source of apples is Washington state and Chile. He noted that apples grown in Mexico are light at this time. “They’re searching for ways to expand their markets and make even more margins,” said Armock. The Mexican importers felt that Michigan apples have better flavor compared to the competition, according to Armock. Heeren agreed that the Mexican importers were impressed with the flavor of Michigan apples. Currently the top three selling apples in Mexico are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Gala in that order. Armock said that they like the flavor of Empire and a couple of retailers in Mexico already have had success with Jonagold. To a lesser extent they are also interested in the Rome variety.
Most believe that Mexico is a growing market for Michigan apples. The country currently imports 25 million cartons of apples.
“For us to get even of small percentage of that is high. Some years we’ll be a lot more successful than other years,” said Armock. “We’re building a base for doing business next year,” he said. Once sold, any apples from Michigan will be trucked to McAllen, Texas or Nogales, Ariz. and inspected at the border. The journey from Michigan to Guadalajara or Mexico City is a five-day trip by truck, Armock said. By visiting Michigan, the six importers were able to get an idea of how things are done in Michigan, according to Armock. The Mexican importers made stops at the Alpine Apple Haus, BelleHarvest Sales, Knapp’s Corner Meijer store in Grand Rapids, Heeren Brothers, a D&W supermarket and Jack Brown Produce.
Four of the group had never seen snow before and Armock said they took the group snowmobiling, an experience they’ll likely not forget. Armock stressed that the Mexico trip and reverse trade mission would not have been possible without the efforts of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, MAC and the USApple Export Council.