SADER–Verde Valle bean deal meets Zacatecas supply strain

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and food company Verde Valle agreed to a framework for what they described as fair bean commercialization for small- and medium-scale producers, as growers in Zacatecas called for an immediate expansion of the federal collection program, citing capacity limits and operational failures at intake centers.

Julio Berdegué, Minister, SADER, and Germán Rosales, CEO, Verde Valle, confirmed that the company is committed to sourcing all beans purchased through its established commercial systems from the current agricultural cycle, which runs through August 2026, and exclusively from Mexican producers.

Both parties emphasized that commercialization will operate through transparent and verifiable mechanisms aimed at securing prices above prevailing regional levels while recognizing production costs and ensuring growers’ economic viability.

Rosales explained that final consumer prices incorporate added costs across the value chain, including collection, transport, storage, selection, packaging, logistics, distribution and financing. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the quality of Mexican beans and to domestic producers.

Berdegué highlighted the significance of a major company joining the fair commercialization strategy promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, calling it “an expression of trust because we all need each other.” In a previous interview, the minister noted that the agency has engaged with the country’s seven main bean trading companies and organized assemblies with small producers to promote direct sales without intermediaries.

The agreement forms part of the National Bean Self-Sufficiency Plan, which targets 739,000 ha with the delivery of 24,633 t of seed nationwide during Sheinbaum’s term. The plan establishes a reference producer price of MX$27/kg.

The federal push for structured commercialization coincides with warnings from Zacatecas producers that the state’s bean collection program is nearing its purchase cap while a large share of the harvest remains undelivered.

Producer representatives reported that the current cycle yielded close to 400,000 t in Zacatecas, compared with an official federal purchase target of 80,000 t. Collections to date total about 70,000 t, increasing the risk that remaining volumes could fall outside the program and be diverted to intermediaries or lose quality in storage.

About 100 bean producers demonstrated on Monday, Feb. 2, along federal highway 45 near the main access to Calera, one of the state’s main grain handling and storage hubs. The complaints focus on collection facilities tied to the Food for Wellbeing program and related plants in the Calera area, where intake, storage and handling services are operating below required capacity.

Fernando Galván, a sector representative, reported that several centers stopped receiving grain as of Jan. 30 despite lines of farmers waiting to deliver. In Calera and other locations, he linked the disruptions mainly to warehouse saturation and limited outflow of stored grain. He also pointed to the case of Tacoaleche, where producers have not been paid due to the absence of a data entry clerk and connectivity problems, and urged management changes at that site. He added that not all centers face the same level of conflict, identifying Pánuco as one that has functioned, although it has also registered recent closures.

Producers contend that intermediaries are exploiting the situation to buy beans at low prices, particularly in Fresnillo, Juan Aldama, Loreto and Pinos, and argue that sack distribution should go directly to registered program participants to prevent diversion.

Growers are urging federal, state and municipal authorities to expand purchase volumes or introduce a phased increase with defined targets and payment certainty, proposing an additional 15,000 to 20,000 t in stages. They also requested a formal working group with authorities and cautioned that further protests, including in Mexico City, are under consideration if no agreement is reached.

Zacatecas leads national bean production by planted area. According to SADER, the state recorded 315,000 ha of bean plantings in 2023, equivalent to 28.8% of the country’s total area.  This positions Zacatecas as the main supply hub for domestic bean output, ahead of other producing states such as Durango, Chihuahua and San Luis Potosí.