You shouldn’t be afraid to buy south of the border produce. The American SW is our largest market area for freight & thus we know the process it goes through before it enters the states. The majority of the produce that comes from south of the border is from US produce giants, not foreign entities. Thus the product is heavily regulated by the USDA prior to entering the US. Take it up with DC & the AG Dept as to why the south of the border produce fields are replacing the American SW fields. But do not blame the American companies for taking advantage of politically friendlier growing regions/countries. The central Cali valley in some areas is becoming a wasteland thanks to govt regulation. Well, that and the enviromentalists & animal rights activists whom they worship.
I remember when it was reported that central Cal. was producing almost 80% of the veggies for the US.
This is very true. I was there last year and I was shocked by how devastated and barren it is becoming.The little towns there are also dying.
For some reason, I get the impression that the US govt wants to punish the growers there, but I'm not sure exactly why. Perhaps it's the environmentalists' hatred of the dread "agribusiness"?