New memorandum means lower prices for produce

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While American leaders debate immigration policies that will affect millions of Mexicans, Mexican produce is pouring in. 

Los Angeles consumers can expect lower prices for their produce thanks to a relationship established between agricultural growers in Mexico and distributors in the United States. Consumers will get another perk from the agreement too.

"It will increase freshness because it is coming from a closer distance than some of the other production sites..." said  Jose Pablo Maauad Ponton, Los Angeles Secretary of Economic Development. "So, the ripeness of the product can be done more in the field and it should get you good products at very competitive prices."

That's the point of the memorandum signed today by the Los Angeles Produce Market Association and the Business Coordinating Council of The Mexican State of Hidalgo.

Because there are so many Mexican immigrants living in Los Angeles,  there is a built in market for Mexican produce.

"The cultural proximity with California and especially with Los Angeles Produce Market Association, which is headed by staff of Mexican origin, is a big opportunity for the producers form Hidalgo to bring stuff like peanuts, papaya, pineapple, cactus purse to this very important market," added Ponton.

Ponton believes that because Mexicans are the primary consumers, who better than Mexican growers to know how to meet their tastes.

"The first and most important issue is to bring knowledge of the California distributors to the source of the product so that it can be planted correctly, harvested correctly, and then packaged in a good manner to get to the market in good shape," he said.

As citizens from Hidalgo spread throughout the United States, Ponton expects that similar agreements will be made in San Jose, Houston, and even Canada.