The U.S. has temporarily banned avocados from being exported to the United States after a U.S. plant safety inspector working in Uruapan, Michoacan received a threatening message on their work cellphone.
According to the Associated Press, the announcement came on February 12, the day before the Super Bowl, which is a big day for avocado growers in Mexico due to the amount consumed.
The ban was instituted on the same day as a Super Bowl ad was unveiled by the Association of Producers and Packers – Exporters of Avocado of Mexico (APEAM), showing guacamole in the spotlight using Julius Caesar and gladiator fans enjoying the deliciousness together.
U.S. inspectors work in Mexico to check over avocados to guarantee they do not hold diseases. Because the U.S. grows avocados as well, they ensure avocados coming from another country won’t harm U.S. crops.
In fact, from 1914 through 1997, avocados were banned for exportation due to scabs, weevils, and pests.
According to Reuters, Michoacan is Mexico’s biggest production area of avocados. Due to the threat, which has yet to be released in full, the inspection program is suspended, which in turn halts the export processes.
Michoacan is considered to be the only part of Mexico authorized to export to the U.S. “Avocado exports are the latest victim of the drug cartel turf battles and extortion of avocado growers in the western state of Michoacan,” Fox 4 explained.
The Jalisco cartel is prominent in Michoacan, battling United Cartels, who are local gangs. Cartels threaten avocado growers and their families with kidnapping and death unless they pay them protection money, sometimes thousands of dollars per acre.
In 2019, inspectors who work under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) were in a truck in Ziracuaretiro when they were robbed at gunpoint by a gang.
“For future situations that result in a security breach, or demonstrate an imminent physical threat to the well-being of APHIS personnel, we will immediately suspend program activities,” the USDA said at that time.
Avocados bring in around three billion dollars in yearly exports. According to the Mexican Government, within the past six weeks, 135,000 tons of avocados were exported to the U.S. from Michoacan.
Alfredo Ramirez, Michoacan’s Governor, plans to meet with U.S. officials to resolve this matter.
