Minister of Alimentation Rafael Oropeza said 70 percent of the purchases made by the government-run food retail chain Mercal are imports through the Corporation of Supply and Agricultura Services.

Purchases abroad include staples such as chicken, powder milk, sugar, beams and edible oil.
 
Based on the figures provided by Oropeza, imports jumped 24.4 percent compared to 2006, when CASA purchases abroad represented 45.6 percent (USD 480 million) of the funds earmarked to buy food.