USA stops avocado deliveries to Mexico

Boxes of avocados during a harvest in Periban, Michoacan state, Mexico, on February 21, 2022. Source: Bloomberg

TThe United States has suspended some new avocado shipments from Mexico following an incident that reportedly compromised the safety of American agricultural inspectors.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) late June 14 of the decision to halt new exports from Michoacan, according to a statement from the trade group obtained by Bloomberg News. While the statement does not describe the incident, local press reports say two inspectors were held against their will and assaulted during a protest against police pay. The USDA has informed the trade group that no activity related to fruit shipments will take place, the statement said.

In an email statement, a USDA spokesperson said inspections of avocados and mangoes in the region are suspended until further notice due to concerns for the safety of personnel in Michoacan. The programs will remain suspended until the security situation is reviewed and safety precautions for personnel are in place.

Mexican exports are not blocked, the USDA spokesman said, but the move would stop the import of all non-inspected shipments. Avocados and mangos that are already in transit will not be affected, the spokesman said.

APEAM President Julio Sahagún Calderón said in a statement on Monday that the group is working “intensively and in close collaboration” with national and international government agencies to resume avocado exports from Michoacán to the United States. The incident that led to the disruption was “beyond the control of the sector,” he added.

Avocado exports from Jalisco are not affected and are running normally, Sahagun said in the statement.

This is the second ban on Mexican avocados in the last two and a half years. It will temporarily disrupt the supply of the popular fruit to Americans. Mexico exports most of its avocados to the USA.

Mexican authorities have struggled to maintain security in the state of Michoacán, the country’s largest avocado producer, where gang violence and extortion are widespread. A February 2022 ban, prompted by a threat against an inspector, lasted a week while the Michoacán government implemented a security plan.

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