Enclaves agrícolas modernos: el caso del jitomate mexicano en los mercados internacionales

Tomatoes are undoubtedly the main vegetable cropthanks to which Mexico has developed its fruit and vegetable industry, both supplying the domestic market and exporting to the United States. Thirty sevenyears after the beginning of its market-oriented mass production, this industry shows features that characterize the modern agricultural enclaves , which emerged from the international opening up of the markets and the new demands of flexible production.Among these characteristics, can be considered the following : Mexico?s growing market share in the United Stat e s ? fresh market, but also a high concentrationin this market and in this kind of offer, without a greater added value; the external dependence with regard to input provision and means of production,which makes this industry dependent on the strategic decisions made in the country that consumes these products. A l s o, the processes of economic integration between the two countries are emphasized. These processes emerged from the shaping of the North American trade bloc, w h e re there are not only competitive relations among countries , but complementary relations too.