South Texas border city celebrating start of Mexican produce season

PHARR, Texas (Border Report) — The South Texas border city of Pharr is preparing to celebrate the start of its annual produce season and is home to the top port for produce imports from Mexico.

The Pharr International Bridge is the No. 1 location for produce imports from south of the border and this year the bridge will mark 30 years facilitating trade between the two countries.

The celebrations will occur on Thursday from 10 a.m. CT to noon at the Pharr International Bridge, located at 9900 S. Cage Blvd.

City officials are calling this event a “milestone” in U.S./Mexican relations and will be joined alongside produce growers, importers, distributors, consumers, and Mexican dignitaries from the border state of Tamaulipas.

All will celebrate continued leadership in trade, agriculture and commerce.

The Pharr International Bridge facilitates the import of over 65% of the nation’s fresh produce, which includes over $6 billion in produce trade. And $47 billion in overall annual trade.

Over 200,000 shipments of fresh produce come through the bridge annually, Pharr International Bridge Director Luis Bazan said in a city video.

It’s the third-ranked port for overall trade with Mexico and the seventh-largest and fastest-growing land port of entry, city officials say.

“We are the No. 1 port for produce. We know that we feed the world,” Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez previously told Border Report.

The start of the produce season marks one of the busiest and most impactful times of the year, highlighting the bridge’s key role in connecting nations and sustaining the flow of fresh goods that benefit millions, officials said.

“This is your bridge. This is your festival. This is your creation. This is your victory,” Hernandez said in the city video.

On Saturday, the city will celebrate its annual Avocado Festival starting at 2 p.m. It will feature singers and wresting stars.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.