Texas hosts Canadian citrus buyers for the first time through SUSTA ATP funds

In October 2021, three Canadian citrus buyers traveled to McAllen, Texas, on the Canada Citrus Inbound Trade Mission, as part of the Texas-led Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program. The buyers visited six companies from Texas, including, Little Bear Produce, Lone Star Citrus Growers, Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas International Produce Association, US Citrus and Wonderful Citrus. This was the first citrus industry event organized through the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) since COVID-19. Buyers had the opportunity to tour facilities and farms and establish new connections in the citrus industry. All three participating buyers rated the experience as excellent and indicated that they would participate in similar activities in the future. Although the Texas citrus industry is still recovering from weather-related crop damages, leading to crop shortages and increased price, one of the buyers purchased two pallets ($5,000 USD) of products immediately following the mission. The buyers indicated a combined $1 million USD in purchases they expect to make as a result of the activity in the next 12 months. This mission provided Texas produce companies a cost-effective opportunity to meet with Canadian importers, buyers, and wholesalers.