Mexico: Strawberry crops, a fundamental element of identity in Irapuato

MILENIO GUANAJUATO. IRAPUATO, Guanajuato. The municipality of Irapuato is known worldwide for its production of strawberries, a fruit that was planted and grew for the first time in the town right on the edge of the Silao River, characterizing and strengthening the identity of the Irapuatenses today. The strawberry came to the municipality since 1852, when Nicolás Tejeda brought it for the first time, to this place, but it was not until the 1960s when the city was declared the Strawberry Capital of the World, as noted Antonio Rico, in charge of the Tourist Module. "It is what makes this variety, even if it is planted in another state, is different here, because precisely the land we have, the land in Irapuato is very rich, very suitable for plants and water as well," he mentioned. Every year, in Irapuato, for each hectare of strawberry, between 60 and 80 tons are produced and depending on the demand, approximately 900 to 1,100 hectares can be planted annually. Currently, ...