Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Pharr, Texas, October 19, 2023 – The city of Pharr was excited as it commemorated the grand kickoff of the 2023-2024 Produce Season, a significant milestone marking its 10th Anniversary. This event, a decade in the making, was proof of the city’s commitment to celebrating the abundance of fresh produce.
The celebration brought together leaders from both sides of the border, exemplifying the unity and cooperation that define the region. Taking the podium following the mayor of Reynosa, Carlos Victor Peña Ortiz, was Texas Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. In a heartfelt address that seamlessly blended English and Spanish, Senator Hinojosa underscored the deep family and economic ties that bind the people of this region.
Hinojosa began by highlighting the solid familial connections between residents of Texas and Mexico along the border. “Here in the Valley, all along the border next to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Texas, we are united families, and that’s a very good thing,” he remarked. This family unity extends to the economic field, where the Pharr International Bridge is essential.
The Texas Senator emphasized the Pharr International Bridge’s importance for the Texan and Mexican economies. “This bridge is so important for the economy, not only on the Texas side but also on the Mexican side,” Hinojosa asserted. He pointed out that the bridge expansion project was a collaborative effort involving the state of Texas and the federal government, with the support of key lawmakers like Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz and local representatives.
Hinojosa highlighted the crucial role of community leaders like mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernández and Luis Bazan CPM, Bridge Director in Pharr.
Mayor Hernández’s tireless advocacy efforts in the Texas capital secured much-needed funding and resources for the bridge’s expansion. Senator Hinojosa commended Bazan’s ability to effectively communicate the need for increased investment in the bridge, emphasizing that the growing commercial trade between the two countries required continued support.
The Senator stressed that the economic growth resulting from this cross-border trade was not limited to one side. It was a shared opportunity for prosperity on the Texan and Mexican fronts. “The leaders of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, including the mayor, also want to benefit from the economic growth on both sides. Are we family? Yes. We can’t work separately,” he stated, underscoring the importance of cooperation.
Senator Hinojosa expressed his gratitude for the collective efforts of leaders from Pharr and Reynosa, who work tirelessly to secure the support of the State of Texas. “I’m very pleased to be here with you on this beautiful morning and all the fruits and vegetables presented here in this celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Start of the Produce,” he stated. “All the food that crosses this bridge to the United States is so important for our health and the health of our families,” he added, emphasizing the crucial role that this trade played in the well-being of both communities.
As the 2023-2024 Produce Season commences, Pharr, Texas, becomes the example of cross-border cooperation and economic growth, united by the shared commitment to celebrating the bounty of fresh produce and the bridge that makes it all possible.
