WASHINGTON, DC - Following the recent ruling made by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to increase inspections on all commercial vehicles crossing the Texas-Mexico border, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is among the industry organizations urging a return to normal border access between the United States and Mexico. As the ruling has created delays in transportation and disrupted the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables along Texas’ ports of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border, the association is calling for a solution as soon as possible.

“The action by the State of Texas has resulted in a huge backlog of fresh produce. In some cases, there are reported delays of 30-plus hours at the border, with the state inspections interfering with the responsibilities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is already tasked with border inspections and security,” explains IFPA Chief Policy Officer, Robert Guenther. “In turn, produce that was destined to U.S. consumers, in some cases, will have to be destroyed because of the perishability of our products. This will result in millions of lost economic production not only in Mexico but to the state of Texas and potentially other border states that are now experiencing similar delays. We urge the Governor to convene all stakeholders impacted by this decision and resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

As explained in a press release, IFPA is encouraged by recent announcements that some border crossings in Texas have been reopened, but still hopes to see a timely return to normal to minimize the increased inspection delays and loss of product.

Additionally, the association also stated that both workforce and supply chain are priority issues for the organization, and IFPA is working with allied industry groups and federal stakeholders for a prompt resolution of this trade disruption.

AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you important updates on the fresh produce supply chain, so be on the lookout for our next update.

International Fresh Produce Association