Potatoes Cost $90 More in Belize Than Mexico. Why? 

Vendors and wholesalers across Belize are raising concerns over the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation’s exclusive control on importing key vegetables, which is driving up prices. 

At Michael Finnegan Market in Belize City, vendors complained about both cost and quality. 

Meanwhile, at BMDC’s Orange Walk facility, News Five saw trucks being loaded with imported potatoes, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and celery for distribution across the country.

Some buyers say the quality is manageable, but the bigger problem is price. 

Western Belize wholesaler Lester Lemus says he pays more than $1.20 per pound for potatoes, while the same sack can cost almost $90 less across the border in Chetumal. 

So why does he keep buying from BMDC? He said, “Well, this is the only place we can buy. We don’t get a license for anything. This is the only importer and if we want to sell we have to buy from them.” 

He describes the arrangement as a concern for consumers and businesses, almost mirroring a monopoly structure. “As a business man I am not affected, but as a Belizean it should concern us, monopolies are not good in anyway,” he said. 

 However, BMDC Administrator Valentin Carillo says competition is welcomed, including competition from the informal market, but import permits for specific products are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Senior Project Officer Sergio Tillett says allowing multiple importers could make it harder to control imports when local production increases. He argues, “If you leave it to ten different importers, how can they control what comes into the country?” 

BMDC says exchange rates and higher costs across the northern border are also pushing prices up. Carillo says the corporation can reduce its profit margins to ease pressure on retailers. 

But BMDC is also expected to remain financially self-sufficient. Tonight on News 5 we ask: how much are Belizean consumers paying for a system that BMDC says must remain profitable? 

Tune in at 6 o’clock.