Pharr celebrates 10th annual start of Produce Season, Avocado Festival
Special to the Advance
As part of its Fresh on the Border initiative, the City of Pharr recently celebrated its 10th annual Start of the Produce Season and its inaugural Avocado Festival.
These events are part of the city's focus on the importance of the produce industry for both the industry stakeholders and the families of the City of Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley.
The events kicked off with City of Pharr officials and Pharr International Bridge leaders celebrating the start of the 2023-2024 Produce Season by welcoming guests to this year's themed event 'Making History' which celebrated the event's 10th year and featured an array of brightly displayed fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to the second annual 'A Taste of Trade' where local restaurants and businesses showcased delectable offerings crafted with the produce that crosses the bridge.
The event was attended by elected officials, dignitaries, produce growers, importers, distributors, and consumers representing the United States and Mexico.
The Pharr International Bridge (PIB) continues to be the No. 1 bridge for produce crossings in the nation, with over 60% of all produce from Mexico crossing through Pharr.
This is distributed to local, regional and national supermarkets as we are the logistics produce gateway for America. The bridge also has a long-standing legacy in the produce industry encompassing both the distribution and supply chains.
"Each year, millions of pounds of produce, worth over $6 billion, cross the Pharr International Bridge, traveling from the East Coast and Midwest to the other parts of the country, and ultimately wind up in other countries, and we are so proud of that," said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. "As our demand continues to increase, we have been working diligently with many partners to ensure that our bridge continues to have the infrastructure, resources, and funding to meet our future needs,” Mayor Hernandez said. 'In addition, we are proud to have recently launched new initiatives, such as our inaugural Avocado Festival, which celebrates the importance of produce to our city, our region, and our nation," he added.
The yearly average of produce shipments from Mexico to the U.S. through Pharr is 200,000, ranking this bustling border crossing as the No. 1 in the nation for fresh produce.
"We are proud to highlight the vital role and economic impact produce has on both sides of our border and these events bring more knowledge and understanding of their importance to our region," the mayor added. "Everyone loves avocados, and as one of the staples of the Superbowl, many are not aware just how many of their avocados cross through our bridge to their grocery stores and eventually to their tables, that is why our new Avocado Festival is so important, it brings more awareness," he said.
The first-ever Avocado Festival, which was hosted in partnership with the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce, is also part of the Fresh on the Border featured events that celebrate and recognize the monumental achievements of the Pharr International Bridge and the communities it serves.
Story Courtesy
City of Pharr