Craft beer companies flourish

The state’s craft beer industry has grown in recent years to record levels, a state lawmaker said.

Assemblyman Jorge Eugenio Núñez said during the opening ceremony of Expo Cerveza México that Mexicali has become a reference point of the industry’s growth.

The expo, considered one of the most important craft beer events in Latin America, was held at Mexico City’s World Trade Center, where providers and producers met by offering different styles and brands of craft beer.

The lawmaker, who was a Mexicali City Councilman from 2013 to 2016, introduced an ordinance to modify local regulations to help craft beer producers in terms of production, sales and distribution of their beverages.

Local producers are expected to sell more than 200 million pesos, or $10.8 million, this year, as well as invest 15 million pesos.

Craft beer companies in Mexico have grown from 14 businesses in 2010 to 630 this year.

“This indicates that our society is more conscious of the importance of supporting, promoting and consuming local products as an effective way to improve our economy,” Nunez said during his speech in the opening ceremony.

According to the lawmaker, local craft beer companies are exporting their products to the United States and Canada, as well as to Central America, Asia, Africa and other markets.

The assemblyman met during the ceremony with Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney.