Veracruz continues to rank among Mexico’s top producers of sweet oranges, reaching an annual output of over 2.7 million tons. Despite this strength, low local consumption remains a key challenge for the citrus sector, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader).
Evaristo Ovando Ramírez, head of Sader’s state office, noted that sweet oranges are currently sold for between 5,000 and 6,000 pesos per ton in northern municipalities such as Álamo Temapache, where much of the harvest goes to industrial juice processors.
“That price is fair for the industrial market, but we need to bring back the culture of consuming fresh oranges, as was common more than 15 years ago,” he said.
He emphasized that diversifying sales channels and promoting direct local consumption would help strengthen producers’ income and reduce reliance on the industrial market.
“There are growers in Álamo capable of competing with producers in Florida, though only a few have reached that level so far,” he added.
Source: NV Noticias
