VALUE NETWORK OF THE PERSIAN LIME IN MEXICO

Abstract

Mexico produces the three most important types of lime: Mexican, Persian, andItalian. Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) is the second most important in planted area.Forty-six percent of the production is intended for export. The objective of thisresearch was to analyze the Persian lime value network of the packing andexporting companies. It was conducted at the main Persian lime producing area,located in the central coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico. As an average, thesampled companies were using 55% of their packing capacity. Most of them (83%)work all year long. They have been from 6 to 15 years in operation. Theyemployed a mean of 41 people, thus they are medium-size enterprises. Fourteenactors were complementing their business in production and marketing. Therelationship between packers and the small lime producing farmers was veryinequitable. Low prices were common for Persian lime producers.The fruits theywere packing came mainly from local producers (90%).Their main exportdestinations were: United States, Europe, Canada, and Japan. Other regions areincreasing Persian lime production, threatening the marketing of the farmers of thecentral coast of the Gulf of Mexico.