Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The Pharr International Bridge, encouraging global commerce, held a grand event marking the beginning of the 2024-2025 produce season. Celebrating 30 years of connecting the U.S. and Mexico through trade and agricultural partnerships, the event highlighted the bridge’s pivotal role in the global fresh produce industry. This industry, which has steadily grown, has made Pharr the number one produce bridge in the U.S., demonstrating the local community’s significant global impact.
Yuri Gonzalez from the City Communications Office kicked off the event, expressing gratitude to key stakeholders, including city leadership, bridge board members, and Mexico’s partners, for their collaboration and dedication. Special recognition was given to the industry’s backbone—producers, importers, and distributors—who ensure fresh produce reaches tables nationwide.
Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, represented by Assistant City Manager Cynthia Garcia Reyes, emphasized the $150 million investment into the bridge’s infrastructure, reinforcing Pharr’s role as a leader in produce transportation, particularly for avocados, pineapples, and tomatoes.
Mexican officials, including the Subsecretary of Government for Tamaulipas, Eliseo Camacho Nieto, underscored the importance of collaboration between the two nations. They highlighted the significant contributions of Mexican farmers and efforts to increase agricultural productivity through innovations like irrigation technologies.
The Pharr International Bridge Director, Luis Bazan, praised teamwork as the driving force behind the bridge’s success. He reflected on the perseverance required to grow the bridge into the economic powerhouse it is today, handling over 109,000 truckloads of fresh produce valued at $8.5 billion last year alone. Bazan emphasized the ongoing infrastructure expansions, with completion slated for late 2025.
Guest speakers, including industry leaders such as Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, highlighted the bridge’s critical role in the U.S. food supply chain. Galeazzi stressed the bridge’s significance in providing fresh produce to communities nationwide, fostering better health and economic prosperity. This connection to a larger cause should make us all proud of our local contribution to the nation’s well-being.
A special highlight was the participation of Evan Ehlers, founder of the non-profit’ Sharing Access,’ who shared his mission to combat food waste by redistributing surplus food to those in need. Ehlers praised the bridge’s potential to support his cause, envisioning partnerships to expand food security initiatives in Texas and beyond. This vision for the future should make us all feel hopeful about the bridge’s potential to make a positive impact.
The event concluded with a symbolic “cutting of the fruit” ceremony, marking the official start of the new produce season. Guests were treated to a “Taste of Trade,” a culinary celebration showcasing dishes from local restaurants, emphasizing the rich connection between trade, community, and culture at the Pharr International Bridge.
The Pharr International Bridge remains a vital gateway for fresh produce, continuously driving economic growth and improving the lives of millions through cross-border collaboration. The future looks bright as the bridge expands and strengthens its role in international trade.
