Mexican hothouse growers pick up tips from Spain   By Jose Escobedo     In Almería, an integrated pest management system is commonly used. Lola Gómez Ferrón, director for Clisol Agro, Almería, says that bumblebees are used to pollinate tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant and zucchini. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------   (Dec. 12, 2:33 p.m.) ALMERÍA, Spain — Although Spanish produce exports to the U.S. have been declining for 10 years, there exists an indirect relationship between the U.S. and Spain.   Today, the majority of Mexican greenhouse growers that export produce to the U.S. apply Spanish technologies to their production methods, resulting in a rapid growth in greenhouse tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers in the U.S. off-season.   Juan José Ley, general manager for tomato exporter Del Campo y Asociados SA de CV, Culiacán, Mexico, has visited Almería, witnessing how Spanish technology has influenced greenhouse and shadehouse production in Mexico.   “Eight years ago, very few growers in Sinaloa used Almerían growing technologies in their greenhouses and shadehouses,” Ley said. “Today, practically 90% of all Mexican greenhouse and shadehouse growers that export their produce to the U.S. use Spanish technology.”   Mario Robles, manager for research and defense at CAADES, the Confederation of Agriculture Associations of the State of Sinaloa, said there are about 6,200 acres of shadehouse or greenhouse facilities in Mexico, and most of them have been influenced by Spanish technology.   That includes automatic opening and closing window systems, shade structures that maximize the use of sunlight, increased humidity inside the greenhouse and water-saving systems.   “We are growing very rapidly, and we hope to have close to 7,400 acres of shadehouse and greenhouse area by the year 2009,” Robles said.   Tons of tomatoes   As of Dec. 11, 501 million pounds of greenhouse tomatoes crossed from Mexico through all ports of entry this year, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than half of that, 271 million pounds, crossed at Nogales, Ariz., the main entry point for Sinaloa-grown greenhouse vegetables.   Bryant Ambelang, chief marketing officer of San Antonio-based Desert Glory Ltd., which has almost 1,000 acres of greenhouse tomato production in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, said Spain and Israel have been contributors of technology used in North American greenhouse/shadehouse growing.   “When we talk with folks in Spain, and learn from their technologies, we can improve our brix levels, the color of our fruit, and reduce cracks and other defects that go along with growing produce,” Ambelang said.   Desert Glory has sent growers to Spain to learn about the Almerian technologies and has plans to send more in the near future, Ambelang said.   “What is exciting to me, is that there are impressive numbers of Mexican growers who are getting very good at this (greenhouse growing),” Ambelang said. “They are exchanging ideas, and many talented Mexican professionals are making themselves an important name worldwide.”   With Mexico’s and Spain’s warm climates, growers do not have to use cooling or heating systems inside their greenhouses, unlike in Holland, where temperatures are relatively low.   Cesar Campaña, president of Asociación Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida AC, Culiacán — Mexico’s association of protected production — said in Mexico there are many kinds of shadehouses and greenhouses.   “We have greenhouses that apply from the most technological Dutch systems to the basic structures that only provide shade and limit the entrance of insects,” Campaña said. “We definitely identify much more with the Almerían technology, rather than the Dutch, because to a certain degree the Almerían climate is much more like ours.”   With more than 64,200 acres of shadehouse and greenhouse area producing mainly tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, the Almerían region has been developing greenhouse growing technologies for 30 years, and has influenced greenhouse and shadehouse growing practices around the world.   “In Almería, there are more than 300 companies that provide services and technologies to the agriculture industry globally, such as greenhouse structures, materials, computerized irrigation systems, machinery and much more,” said Martin Soler, Counselor for the Department of Agriculture for Andalusia. “This industry produces a total of $1.5 billion annually.”   Lola Gómez Ferrón, an Almerían native and director of Crisol Agro, Almería, a company that provides tours of its greenhouses and specializes in providing technical advice to growers from all over the world, has taught valuable lessons to many Sinaloan growers.   “We think our success has come from getting to know our climate very well, and so we have been able to adapt certain technologies to the plant’s necessities,” Gómez said.   Technologies vary from simple to complex and from plastic structures to glass structures, but all are designed to optimize the use of natural resources, water and fertilizers, Gomez said.   “We also use irrigated automated systems that provide just the right amount of water and nutrients to the plants,” Gomez said. “If it is a cold, cloudy day, then the plant needs less water. During the summer months, the plants may need to be watered up to 15 times.” E-mail Jose Escobedo   © 2008 Vance Publishing Corp