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Funding Comes Together For Nogales Cold Inspection Facility

The Nogales produce industry has cobbled together most of the roughly $600,000 necessary to add a cold inspection facility at the Mariposa Port of Entry. That could allow for more berry, avocado and grape imports during the historically low-volume summer months, when many seasonal workers are laid off.

Officials announced the new funding during the Arizona-Mexico Commission Sonora Summit in Hermosillo Thursday.

“When you talk about the dollar value of grape, the dollar value of avocado, the dollar value of berries coming into this country, it’s huge,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce Bracker. “These are year-round products.”

Bracker’s board recently approved a $150,000 donation and up to $100,000 in loans for the facility.

The local Fresh Produce Association of the Americas has also committed up to $250,000, meaning most funding has been secured. Once ordered, the facility could be up and running in a few months.

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Murphy Woodhouse was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2018 to 2023.