These providers of services are vital to the smooth flow of goods across borders. In general, apples and pears can move into the Mexican distribution system in one of four ways. There are transhipments where fruit is transferred to at lease one other trailer at the border. There are direct shipments where fruit is not transferred between trailers at the border. These first two systems are all by truck.
Fruit can also arrive at the border by rail.
At or near the border, it is transferred into trucks, sometimes more than one, moved across the border, and on to the central market. The fourth system isn't yet in operation. It involves a through rail shipment that starts in Washington and ends at Monterrey. Developers of this fruit transport system plan to be in operation by April 1992. As in most markets, understanding the fruit distribution system helps reduce market channel delays and assures that fruit quality is consistent.