El papel del entorno en las modificaciones de la estructura regional de la producción de limón y de naranja en México (The importance of location for lemon and orange cultivation in Mexico)

In relation to citrus fruit growing in Mexico important changes, both in connection with the surface area being cultivated, and its location, have been occurring. Among the factorsexplaining, these changes are to be found –in the first place– the adaptability of citrus fruit growing. Although a very important factor has been the existence of a market for this fruit, and the existence of areas with few alternative work opportunities. At the same time, the citrus fruit market is dominated by a reduced group of big companies that control the commercialization of said product, by way of the intermediarism that takes place in the principal Supply Centers of Mexico: the so-called “Centros de Abasto”. In addition, at the same time, the fact that there are thousands of small-scale producers, of whom the majority are smallholdings’ owners based upon family units. Another characteristic of this agricultural production is the relocation of the production zones themselves, which are characterized by having a large percentage of the local rural population living in poverty without other work alternatives.