Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Pharr, Texas, October 19, 2023 –Pharr was alive with excitement as it celebrated the grand kickoff of the 2023-2024 Produce Season, marking its 10th Anniversary. This historic event, a decade in the making, not only celebrated the bountiful harvest but also marked a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing commitment to fostering a thriving relationship with its neighbor, Mexico.
The event brought together notable personalities, including Consul Froilán Yescas, the head of the Mexican Consulate in McAllen, and Dr. Dámaso Anaya, Secretary of Rural Development, Fisheries, and Agriculture of the Government of Tamaulipas. The celebration’s highlight was signing a binational agreement between Mexico and Pharr, Texas.
Consul Yescas took the podium to address the enthusiastic audience, emphasizing the importance of cross-border economic ties. He stated, “The primary goal of our government is to ensure that citizens on both sides of the border continue to develop a strong commercial relationship that contributes to positive bilateral economic ties.” He went on to announce a working agenda scheduled for October 25 and 26 aimed at facilitating access to the U.S. market for producers from the State of Tamaulipas. This agenda would focus on customs, health, and security procedures to establish commercial contacts with the administrators of the international bridges in the region.
Consul Yescas also shared an impressive statistic: “I was asked this week if it was true that Mexico had surpassed China in terms of commercial development. I confirmed it with data. Indeed, Mexico’s growth continues so that we have become a partner that has surpassed China, which is no small achievement, and I am very pleased about it.”
Dr. Dámaso Anaya, representing the Government of Tamaulipas, expressed his gratitude and highlighted the importance of events like the Produce Season celebration. He emphasized, “This production is for the year 2023, the 10th-anniversary celebration, making history. We feel honored to join the authorities of Pharr, Texas, and the Mexican Consulate of McAllen in this celebration.”
Dr. Anaya spoke about the significant role of the Pharr International Bridge in facilitating trade, stating, “The Pharr International Bridge is the most important and fastest commercial gateway we have in the lower Rio Grande Valley, along the Mexico-U.S. border. In 2022, this bridge facilitated the trade of $47 billion.” He explained that the agreement aimed to strengthen the transportation of agricultural and perishable products, which accounted for 15% of the total commercial value.
The Secretary continued, “On this occasion, we come to reaffirm the Memorandum for the Promotion and Development of the Rural Sector, with the objectives of promoting understanding among citizens in a spirit of friendship and seeking common prosperity and development.” He announced the full support of the Government of Tamaulipas in promoting agricultural trade and rural sector investment in collaboration with Pharr.
The event concluded with the signing the memorandum, symbolizing the strengthened partnership between Pharr, Texas, and Tamaulipas. Consul Yescas invited Dr. Ambrosio Hernández, the Mayor of Pharr, to the stage for this momentous occasion. The mayor expressed his excitement for this historic day, marking a new era of cooperation and prosperity for both regions.
The 10th Anniversary of the Produce Season not only celebrated the agricultural abundance of Pharr but also highlighted the importance of cross-border relationships in promoting economic growth and stability.
As the festivities continued, participants and attendees alike looked forward to the fruitful collaborations that would follow this significant agreement.
