De agricultor a distribuidor. Upgrading funcional transfronterizo en el noroeste de México

This article aims to analyze the upgrading of producers in northwestern Mexico in the global value chain of horticultural products and understand the characteristics and dimensions of this process. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with different growers and distributors in the region, and the information collected was triangulated with secondary sources. The results show that: (i) there has been a functional upgrading in these actors from producers to marketers, as well as an upgrading of products and processes; (ii) trust between the parties is key to increasing the maturity of the horticultural value chain; (iii) capacities have been developed to adapt to the demands of international markets; (iv) innovation and continuous improvement are imperative to keep up with the dynamics of cross-border trade. The knowledge generated is an empirical input for future research focused on the response capacity of regional agents to the demands of the world market.