Lime production in Mexico

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Mexican limes Owoce Lima.jpg
Mexican limes

For several decades, since at least the 1950s, Mexico has been the world's largest producer and exporter of limes, [1] [2] [3] [4] and especially of lime oil. [2] [5]

Contents

The two popular varieties of limes grown in Mexico are the Mexican or Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and the Persian lime ( Citrus latifolia , simply called "lime" in the US); the former is of Indo–Malayan origin introduced in Mexico by the Spaniards after the 1520s, [6] while the latter, also called the Tahiti lime, was introduced from the United States. Persian lime production in Mexico caters specifically to the US market; a substantial increase in production has been attributed to the North American Free Trade Agreement. [7] Lime production in Mexico has also expanded consequent to the increase in its per capita consumption in the United States and the European Union (EU). [8]

Geographical distribution

Most limes are grown in the warmer southwest (60% of total) and southeast of the country (40%). Key limes amount to about 54% of the total lime production, and are grown in the southwestern states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. Persian limes, about 42% of the lime production, are grown in Jalisco, Colima, Hidalgo, in micro-climates in northern Veracruz, and in the southeastern states of Tlaxcala, Chiapas, Tabasco and the Yucatan. [9] [10] [11] The most important lime producing states are Michoacán and Colima. [9]

Characteristics of limes grown in Mexico

Keylime-flower.jpg
Key lime flower
Limao Citrus Aurantifolia.JPG
A cluster of Key limes

Key lime

The Key lime tree (also referred to in the vernacular as the “Mexican lime”) is a slender tree which grows to heights of 2.0–4.0 m (6.6–13.1 ft), bears scentless flowers (with white stems and yellow anthers) that mature into fruits, singly, in pairs or in larger clusters. The fruit, which is generally 25–51 mm (0.98–2.01 in) in diameter, as it ripens, changes its peel color from green to pale-yellow. The greenish-yellow pulp of the fruit, with its inseparable 6–15 segments, is juicy and highly acidic with flavor and aroma. It has either a few or many small seeds. Though the climatic conditions under which the Key lime thrives is moist, with annual precipitation in the range of 2,000–3,800 mm (79–150 in) the tree is more capable of enduring drought conditions than other citrus fruit varieties. However, in excessive rainfall, trees may be infected with fungus. The Key lime is also more sensitive to cold than the lemon, and can be grown only in protected locations. [6]

The Key lime has a longer shelf life than other limes, which is useful since refrigeration facilities are lacking in the country. The tree species of Indo-Malayan origin was introduced to Mexico by Spanish Conquistadors after 1520. Now, 2,000,000 seedling trees are reported near Colima. However, there are very few varieties of the Key lime, except for several spineless selections, inasmuch as there is no great variation in the wild or under cultivation. [6] [7]

Persian lime

Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) Starr-140117-3997-Citrus latifolia-Tahitian fruit and leaves-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (24612312943).jpg
Persian lime (Citrus latifolia)

Persian limes are larger and contain more juice than Key limes. [7] It is an acid lime which has been developed in recent times. Its origin is inferred as a hybrid of the Key lime and citron. [12]

The Persian or Tahiti lime tree grows to 15–20 feet (4.6–6.1 m) height, with broad lanceolate leaves and slightly purple-tinged flowers (with no viable pollen) mostly in January. The fruit has vivid green peel till it ripens to pale-yellow. Its pulp with 10 segments of light greenish-yellow color is normally seedless. [12]

Production statistics and organized crime

The biggest focus of Mexican citrus production is on Key limes; in 2003, Mexico produced 768,000 tonnes of Key limes and 235,000 tonnes of Persian limes. [10] For the 2010/11 season, Mexico forecasts that it will produce a total of 1.9 million tonnes of limes. [9] The largest importers of lime oil are the US, UK, Japan, Ireland and Belgium. [5]

In recent years, the Persian lime industry has taken off in Veracruz, dominated by large-scale producers, with over 25% of limes being produced using micro-jet irrigation or other irrigation systems, year-round in micro-climates. [9] Transportation costs from Veracruz to the US border are reported to be approximately 11,500 pesos (US$912.69) per trailer, depending on fuel prices. [9]

In 2014, production problems resulted in unusually high lime prices in the United States and substitution of cheaper lemons for some uses. These were caused by bad weather, citrus greening disease, and the organized crime activities of the Knights Templar Cartel, which extorted producers and seized shipments and farms. [13] In 2019, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel seized lime farms in Michoacán and then abandoned them a few months later. The economic aftereffects of this disruption, along with cold weather, contributed to another price spike in 2022. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Citrus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the Rutaceae

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus Citrus is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia. Various citrus species have been used and domesticated by indigenous cultures in these areas since ancient times. From there its cultivation spread into Micronesia and Polynesia by the Austronesian expansion ; and to the Middle East and the Mediterranean via the incense trade route, and onwards to Europe and the Americas.

Calamansi Species of plant

Calamansi, also known as calamondin, Philippine lime, or Philippine lemon, is an economically important citrus hybrid predominantly cultivated in the Philippines. It is native to the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, and Sulawesi in Indonesia in Southeast Asia, as well as southern China and Taiwan in East Asia. Calamansi is ubiquitous in traditional Filipino cuisine. It is naturally very sour, and is used in various condiments, beverages, dishes, marinades, and preserves. Calamansi is also used as an ingredient in Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines.

Grapefruit Citrus fruit

The grapefruit is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large, sour to semi-sweet, somewhat bitter fruit. The interior flesh is segmented and varies in color from pale yellow to dark pink.

Avocado Species of flowering plant in the laurel family Lauraceae

The avocado is a tree originating in the Americas which is likely native to the highland regions of south-central Mexico to Guatemala. It is classified as a member of the flowering plant family Lauraceae. The fruit of the plant, also called an avocado, is botanically a large berry containing a single large seed. Avocado trees are partially self-pollinating, and are often propagated through grafting to maintain predictable fruit quality and quantity.

Colima State of Mexico

Colima, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Colima, is one of the 31 states that make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima.

Lime (fruit) Citrus fruit

A lime is a citrus fruit, which is typically round, green in color, 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) in diameter, and contains acidic juice vesicles.

<i>Citrus limetta</i> Citrus fruit and plant

Citrus limetta, alternatively considered to be a cultivar of Citrus limon, C. limon 'Limetta', is a species of citrus, commonly known as mousami, musami, sweet lime, sweet lemon, and sweet limetta, it is a member of the sweet lemons. It is small and round like a common lime in shape. It is a cross between the citron and a bitter orange.

Citrus production

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Key lime pie American custard pie

Key lime pie is an American dessert pie. It is made of lime, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk. It may be served with no topping, topped with a meringue topping made from egg whites, or with whipped cream; it may be cooked in a pie crust, graham cracker crust, or no crust. The dish is named after the small Key limes, which are more aromatic than the common Persian limes, and which have yellow, not green, juice. The filling in a Key lime pie is also yellow, largely because of the egg yolks.

Limequat Hybrid Species of fruit and plant

The limequat is a citrofortunella hybrid that is the result of a cross between the Key lime and the kumquat, hybridized by Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1909.

Persian lime Species of fruit and plant

Persian lime, also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation. The Persian lime is a triploid cross between key lime and lemon.

Meyer lemon Citrus fruit

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Bergamot orange Cultivated variety of citrus fruit

Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange, is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green color similar to a lime, depending on ripeness.

Key lime Citrus fruit and plant

The Key lime is a citrus hybrid native to tropical Southeast Asia. It has a spherical fruit, 25–50 mm (1–2 in) in diameter. The Key lime is usually picked while it is still green, but it becomes yellow when ripe.

Orange (fruit) Citrus fruit

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Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a viral species of the genus Closterovirus that causes the most economically damaging disease to its namesake plant genus, Citrus. The disease has led to the death of millions of Citrus trees all over the world and has rendered millions of others useless for production. Farmers in Brazil and other South American countries gave it the name "tristeza", meaning sadness in Portuguese and Spanish, referring to the devastation produced by the disease in the 1930s. The virus is transmitted most efficiently by the brown citrus aphid.

Lemon Yellow citrus fruit

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The micrantha is a wild citrus from the papeda group, native to southern Philippines, particularly islands of Cebu and Bohol. Two varieties are recognized: small-flowered papeda, locally known as biasong, and small-fruited papeda or samuyao.

Micro-budding is a grafting technique used in the development of citrus trees. Like traditional grafting, there is a combination the hardy characteristics of a rootstock with the desired fruit of the budded region; however, micro-budding is done at a younger age, and because of apical hormonal dominance, the resulting citrus trees grow faster and bear fruit at an earlier stage than traditional T-budded grafted trees. It was developed in 1997 by Dr. Mani Skaria, a citrus scientist (retired) from the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Citrus Center.

Agriculture is the largest industry in the Mexican state of Michoacán. Including livestock it formed the state's primary economic industry. Of particular importance is the avocado sector; Mexico produces more avocadoes than any other country, and Michoacán is the primary growing area.

References

  1. ↑ Spiegel-Roy, Pinchas; Goldschmidt, Eliezer E. (1996). Biology of citrus. Cambridge University Press. p. 13. ISBN   978-0-521-33321-4.
  2. 1 2 FAS-M. Foreign Agricultural Service, US Dept. of Agriculture. 1956. p. 30.
  3. ↑ Khan, Iqrar Ahmad (2007). Citrus genetics, breeding and biotechnology. CABI. p. 2. ISBN   978-0-85199-019-4.
  4. ↑ Sarris, Alexander (2003). Medium-term prospects for agricultural commodities: projections to the year 2010. Food & Agriculture Org. p. 98. ISBN   978-92-5-105077-4.
  5. 1 2 Saul Julian Abarca Orozco, James E. Epperson. "The Economic Potential of the Lime-Oil Industry in Mexico" (PDF). Agcon. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 "Citrus aurantifolia Swingle". hort.purdue.edu/. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 Spreen T.H. "The Citrus industries of the United States and Mexico after NAFTA". chapingo.mx. pp. 151–152. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  8. ↑ "Projections of World Production and Consumption of Citrus to 2010". fao.org. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Orange, Lemon and Lime, Grapefruit, and Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice Situation" (PDF). Chilealimentos. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. 1 2 "THE MEXICAN LIME INDUSTRY" (PDF). Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  11. ↑ "The Mexican Lime Industry". fshn.ifas.ufl.edu/. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Tahiti Lime". hort.purdue.edu. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  13. ↑ Polly Mosendz (13 May 2014). "Here's How the Great Lime Shortage Is Affecting Bars Across America". The Atlantic .
  14. ↑ Tim McKirdy (18 March 2022). "Bar Owners Left Bitter as Lime Prices Soar — But Inflation Isn't to Blame". VinePair.
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