Mexican Fresh Tomatoes: Agribusiness Value Chain Contributions to the U.S. Economy

Abstract

Imported fresh produce, such as tomatoes, supports economic activity, jobs, and income in the United States, even though it is grown elsewhere. In the case of tomatoes grown in Mexico, international agribusiness supply chains support forward-linked industries that deliver fresh tomatoes to end buyers in the United States and Canada, as well as backward-linked industries that supply inputs to agricultural producers in Mexico. This study estimates the total contribution of Mexican fresh tomatoes to the U.S. economy, including industries involved in delivering fresh tomatoes from ports of entry to end consumers (direct effects), and the multiplier effects in other U.S. industries through business-to-business transactions (indirect effects) and household-to-business transactions (induced effects).