nearest to destination points for Mexican perishables exports are best positioned to take

advantage of complementary haulage. Therefore, information regarding the distribution of

perishables imports from Mexico throughout the U.S. is of interest.

 An analysis of the distribution of the most important category of perishables imports from

Mexico, produce, was carried out using 1991 data and following the methodology developed by

Beilock and Portier. Annually Mexico exports to the U.S. over 110,000 truckload equivalents

of produce (assuming 21 short ton loads). A large, though unknown, portion of the transport

capacity is either empty or hauling non-refrigerated, low-valued loads when repositioning

southward. This under-used capacity represents an opportunity for U.S. perishables exporters

located near this southbound flow.

 As might be expected, Mexico principally serves the western and central portions of the

U.S.. It is estimated that 45 percent of Mexican produce exported to the U.S. is marketed in

the two westernmost regions (West Coast and Pacific Northwest), 37 percent is marketed in the

two central regions (Northcentral and Southcentral), but only 18 percent goes to the two

easternmost regions (Southeast and Northeast) (Table 4 and Figure 8).