Lime Price Crash Hits José María Morelos Farmers

José María Morelos, MX — Citrus producers in José María Morelos are facing a severe crisis due to a market oversupply of limes, which has driven prices down to as low as 10 pesos per kilogram. Local growers warn that the problem stems from the abandonment of traditional crops, such as sweet oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits, in favor of lime cultivation.

Overproduction Leads to Price Collapse

Esteban Uxul Serralta, a producer from the community of La Candelaria, explained that the current situation is the result of unchecked lime planting. “Many farmers cut down sweet orange trees to plant limes. This happened across the entire southeast region. Now there’s an enormous surplus of limes, and no market for them. Buyers are offering as little as 10 or 15 pesos per kilo, when before, prices were at 30 pesos,” he said.

Serralta compared the situation to a similar crisis years ago involving watermelons. “Everyone planted watermelons when demand was high, but overproduction led to a market collapse. The same thing is happening now with limes,” he added.

In contrast, he noted that previously neglected fruits are now in high demand. “Tangerines are selling for 200 pesos per box, and sweet oranges for 150 pesos. If you have a thousand boxes, they sell quickly,” he remarked.

Call for Crop Diversification

Uxul Serralta urged fellow producers to diversify their crops, following the practices of previous generations. “Our grandparents grew everything in their orchards: squash, beans, sweet potatoes, macales. We need to return to that model,” he asserted.

He proposed that over the next five to seven years, orchards should be restructured to include a wider variety of fruits. “We can’t rely on a single crop. If limes aren’t profitable, grapefruits or tangerines can make up the difference,” he concluded.