PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF BERRIES IN MEXICO’S AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The production and marketing of fruits and vegetables is one of the most important economic activities for agricultural development in Mexico. The group of berries, including raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), strawberry (Fragaria spp.), blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott), and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), has positioned Mexico among the main exporting countries of these products, where the value of exports has maintained a growing trend in recent decades. The index of revealed comparative advantage (VCR) identifies countries that have a competitive advantage over others in a given product and compares competitive trends in the same market. The objective of this study was to determine Mexico’s competitive advantage in the production and export of berries under the hypothesis that there is a positive index of revealed comparative advantage in the export of berries. The VCR and the trade openness index were computed by examining the historical trends in berry production and its involvement in both domestic and international markets. The value and volume of berry production have increased significantly since 2010, which places Mexico among the three main producing countries. It is notable that the trade openness of the Mexican agricultural sector has increased during the period 2001–2019. In addition, a comparative advantage has been demonstrated in strawberry exports, which positions Mexico as one of the main exporters of this product and represents an important competitive position in world trade since berry exports exceed imported volumes. Therefore, Mexico has a positive and growing comparative advantage, which makes it competitive with the leading countries in the production and export of berries.