consumption, the produce must be ready to eat when it arrives at the Central Market. The result

is that losses can be substantial if something goes wrong. Day-old tomatoes might be marked

down 30% and half-day old celery might be thrown away. Under these circumstances, routing

produce through Mexico City that will ultimately be consumed in some other city means

considerably more spoilage. The Central Market is open 365 days per year from 12 midnight

until 6 p.m. It receives 8,000 trucks per day. Compared with U.S. markets, there very little

refrigeration and virtually no mechanized product handling. All produce moves by human

powered handcart. There are few or no fork lifts, electric mules, and hydraulic mules.

Reflecting Mexico's dependence on motor carriage, the market has no rail siding. About 80%

of the trucks are never unloaded.

 Although the supermarkets do receive some direct shipments from producers, they still

prefer to shop in the central market because they can see what they are buying. However, the

dependence of supermarkets on the Central Market is declining. For example, smaller buyers,

such as meat markets or independent grocers, might buy meats in the central market. But

supermarkets generally get direct delivery of meats from the packer.


REGIONAL CENTRAL MARKETS

 Central markets exist in many smaller cities, and more are being built. Eventually 32

satellite markets are going to be opened. An example is the Villahermosa Market. This market

is made up of 28 stores, most of which are owned and operated by long-time fruit and vegetable

families from Puebla. Five of the 28 also are growers. In addition to marketing their produce

through their facilities in Villahermosa and Puebla, these growers also ship to other markets.