PHARR, TX - “Nearly 60 percent of the fresh produce that comes [through Texas] from Mexico makes its way through our point of entry and we are making strategic investments to build the infrastructure from within the port, in order to increase efficiencies,” Luis A. Bazán, Interim Bridge Director for the City of Pharr International Bridge, tells me. “We are the only full service commercial bridge in the region, meaning that we are quicker to cater to industry needs, based on our current services, infrastructure and technology.”

As of today, October 13, the value of goods that have crossed the bridge total approximately $22,414,174,934, according to the Pharr International Bridge website.

The growth in Pharr, Texas, has ramped up in leaps-and-bounds in recent years as the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge serves as one of the most important ports of entry for the U.S.-Mexico border. The growth, while already substantial, is only the beginning as the city continues to create business opportunities for produce companies, manufacturing plants and expands through short and long term projects.

Currently, the City of Pharr has a project underway called the Border Safety Inspection Facility Connector (BSIF). While still in the design phase, this project will allow certified companies, vetted by the federal government, along with empty trucks to bypass the importation process.

“The BSIF will allow for 30 percent of the commercial trucks that cross into Pharr each day to bypass the import process,” Luis says. “To give you a more concrete idea of what that means, approximately 800 trucks will be processed through this new venture allowing for more capacity on the bridge and making the flow of commercial trade a speedier process.”

Mondays and Fridays are the busiest, and most congested days, at the Pharr Bridge, and no doubt a focal point of Pharr’s investments. It is important to the growth in Pharr that the city can limit wait times. “At the end of the day, our goal is to be more efficient by reducing wait times and speeding up the inspection process. All our current projects and future projects aim to do just that,” Luis adds.

“Our work with the state and federal government is allowing us to build a better infrastructure inside the port of entry,” Luis notes.

The city, along with GSA, CBP, TXDOT and USDOT-FMCSA, plan to complete the project in late 2016, pending GSA approval. The City of Pharr has also been in MOU’s with Customs and Border Protection as wells as the GSA as of last week to launch four new projects that will help increase efficiencies.

“We are currently the number one bridge for avocados and number two in tomatoes for Mexican produce to be distributed throughout the U.S.,” Luis adds. “It really is about location, location, location. We are a mecca for distribution being connected naturally and directly to Mexico, North-Northeastern U.S., which is where you’ll find the highest population density and biggest markets, Canada and beyond.

And from talking to Luis I can see that location definitely is key. With Pharr’s location, and the help of the new Mazatlan-Matamoros superhighway, also dubbed Supervía, the Pharr port of entry can help suppliers save as much as 600 to 700 miles of travel time when transporting to major markets in the Midwest and along the East Coast.  Connecting Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico to Pharr, Texas, this new route for produce transportation provides a more direct route to customers, along with up to $3,000 in fuel savings and nearly 16 hours in travel time round-trip.

The state of Sinaloa is what some call the breadbasket of Mexico with nearly 70-80 percent of fruits and vegetables originating from this state. The city has seen a significant rise in the number of importers and brokers who are based in Arizona but are expanding their operations’ presence in Texas, particularly in Pharr.

“This is a business decision that makes sense for many of these importers as the new highway in Mexico creates a pipeline through South Texas for a faster and less expensive route, the path of least resistance, if you will, to cities in the North-Northeastern part of the U.S., as well as Canada,” Luis tells me as we wrap up our conversation.

As Pharr continues to grow as a Mecca for distribution, the city has a need to create more space so that potential produce suppliers and brokers can lay their foundations. So, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we take a look at what other projects Pharr has in store to bolster the growing economy.

Pharr International