What is the Supply Network Structure for Mexican Tomatoes

Most of the grower companies are medium-sized, having a land size of around 15-20ha, with their own packing facility where the tomatoes are sanitized, packed, and cooled before loading. The loading specs are usually 1,600 boxes in a 40ft container. Most production happens in Sinaloa, Mexico. Grower companies harvest other products such as peppers to have steady cash flow all year round. In Mexico, plum is the most harvested tomato variety, followed by round tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. The presence of a broker between the growing company and the marketing or distributing company is rare because US buyers already have a longtime partner in Mexican tomato grower companies. The US marketer/distributor shoulders the customs, logistics, and carton costs and receives the product in their US warehouses, where the quality inspection is conducted.