The flow of avocados from Mexico to California could slow in the coming days, which could lead to tough times for fans of guacamole and avocado toast.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this week it has suspended inspections of avocados and mangoes imported from the violence-hit Mexican state of Michoacan, a move that could eventually result in higher prices for consumers.
The decision to halt inspections came after two U.S. Department of Agriculture employees were “recently attacked and detained while performing their work in the state of Michoacán inspecting avocados,” U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar said in a statement. The employees are no longer in captivity, Salazar said, although he did not specify how they were freed.
It is unclear when inspections will resume. The USDA wrote in a statement to the Times on Tuesday that “the programs will remain paused until the safety situation is reviewed and protocols and safeguards are established to [Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service] staff.”
The measure will not affect avocados and mangoes that are already on their way to the United States. Fruits and vegetables from other Mexican states are also not affected by the suspension, Salazar stated.
While the United States has not provided many details about the nature of the incident, Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla told Mexico's Radio Formula that the incident began on Friday when a vehicle carrying two inspectors, along with other vehicles from traffic, was stopped during a protest. in the town of Paracho. The two inspectors were never in danger or detained and were soon on their way, the governor said.
“It was not a criminal act directed at the inspectors,” the governor said. Protesters in Mexico routinely block roads as protests against the government, organized crime or other entities. The governor expressed confidence that inspections will resume shortly. Michoacán produces more avocados than any other Mexican state.
“My government offers inspectors all the necessary help in terms of security,” the governor told Radio Formula.
This is not the first time that American safety inspectors have faced problems in Michoacán, where the multibillion-dollar avocado industry has become a prime target for cartels, which impose heavy taxes on producers and plant their own plantations of what the Locals call it “green gold.” ”
More than a dozen criminal groups in Mexico are fighting for control of the avocado trade, taking advantage of wealthy orchard owners, the workers who pick the fruit and the drivers who truck it north to the United States. Parts of Michoacan now resemble a veritable war zone, with gangs boasting powerful arsenals including grenade launchers, drones rigged with explosives and tank-like vehicles known as “monsters” that are equipped with machine gun turrets and steel armor.
American inspectors have often been caught in the middle. Two years ago, the United States suspended imports of avocado from Michoacán after a plant safety inspector was threatened. That suspension was lifted less than a week later. In December 2020, the United States stopped importing avocados from a region of Michoacán for a month after an armed group burned avocado shipments, Mexican officials said.
Salazar said he plans to travel next week to Michoacán to meet with Ramírez and the Association. of Producers and Exporting Packers of Mexico to address safety.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday that his government was working with the Americans to resume inspections.
“Fortunately we have good relations and we are convincing them to act differently, but it takes time,” he said.
Avocados have become a staple in the diet of many Americans who spread the creamy fruit on toast and mash it to make guacamole. Consumers have benefited greatly (in their recipes and in their pockets) from the efficient production of the crop in Mexico, experts say.
In 2023, the United States imported a record 2.78 billion pounds of fresh avocados and 89% of the volume came from Mexico. California growers, who specialize heavily in Hass avocados, produce most of the fruit grown in the United States and account for about 10% of national consumption.
The California Avocado Commission estimates that California growers grew 233.1 million pounds of avocados during the 2022-23 season. Officials anticipate 208 million pounds will be produced this season, making it the smallest crop since 2008, according to a USDA outlook report released in March.
Fresh avocado imports totaled nearly $3 billion last year, ranking second in U.S. fresh produce import value behind tomatoes.
The effect on consumers will depend on how long inspections remain stalled, said Daniel Sumner, a professor of agricultural economics at UC Davis.
“If it goes away quickly, it could be a bit of a blip in the market,” he said. “If it lasts several weeks, we'll probably see a lot fewer avocados.”
If the pause in inspections continues, Sumner said, people should be prepared for avocado prices to eventually rise. Stores and restaurants may also choose to stop purchasing fruit depending on the desires of their customer base, he said.
“That's a natural thing that happens. Things are rationed by price,” Sumner said.
