Three major Mexican produce companies and the Mexico City central market represented
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), grower members, Hancock Agricultural Research Station (HARS), and the Food + Farm Exploration Center hosted Mexican produce buyers from NaturaSol, Kronchis, and the Central de Abasto-Mexico City (CEDA) wholesale market for a Reverse Trade Mission, September 30-October 4.
The purpose of the Mexican Reverse Trade Mission was to promote the sale of Wisconsin potatoes for export to Mexico, gain more knowledge of the Mexican markets, and meet with potential table stock and chip stock importers.
Attendees included Rubén Ríos of CEDA, Mexico City’s largest wholesale market; Juan Carlos Díaz and Omar Arch of Kronchis (pronounced Crunchies), a snack producer interested in importing Wisconsin chip stock; and Brenda Reyes, Enrique Martínez and Reynaldo Santamaría of NaturaSol, which purchases roughly 15 loads of chip stock from the United States weekly and anticipates importing 30 loads per week in 2025.
Also in attendance were Peter Joyce, a consultant and multi-lingual interpreter contracted by the WPVGA, Joe Kertzman, managing editor of the Badger Common’Tater, and WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan.
Over the course of three full days, the group enjoyed tours and visits to the Alsum Farms & Produce grading, packing and storage facility, and an Alsum Farms potato field in Grand Marsh; Heartland Farms and the Top Tier Ingredients potato flake and flour plant; Okray Family Farms; the Food + Farm Exploration Center; Hyland Lakes Spuds; Coloma Farms; HARS and the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility (SRF); and Gary Bula Farms.
