US Government inspections of avocados and mangoes in Michoacán, Mexico, are set to gradually resume after a temporary suspension due to attacks on inspectors. US Ambassador Ken Salazar announced that employees from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin to return to packing plants, but emphasized that more progress is needed to ensure their safety before full operations can resume.
The suspension was initiated after two USDA inspectors were assaulted and temporarily detained in Michoacán last weekend. The inspectors, who work for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), play a crucial role in ensuring that exported avocados do not carry diseases that could harm US crops. The incident led to a halt in inspections, causing significant disruption to the avocado and mango trade between Michoacán and the United States.
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla downplayed the severity of the situation, suggesting that the inspectors were never in real danger. He mentioned that state forces are providing security to avocado growers and packers and expressed optimism that the security situation will improve. Salazar echoed this sentiment but stressed that the safety of inspectors is paramount before full trade can resume.
The halt in inspections has already led to a commercial crisis in the region, with daily losses amounting to 7.5 million dollars. The US State Department has issued a level 4 alert for Michoacán, advising US citizens not to travel to the state due to crime and kidnapping risks. Despite these challenges, Salazar remains optimistic about resolving the security issues.
Michoacán is the largest producer of avocados in Mexico, a country that exported 1.4 million tons of the fruit last year, marking a 17% increase from the previous year. The United States is the primary market for these exports, accounting for 81% of the shipments, valued at 2.7 billion dollars. The recent suspension did not completely halt avocado exports to the US, as the state of Jalisco, which is also authorized to export avocados, continued its shipments.
- The recent attack on USDA inspectors in Michoacán has highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by avocado and mango growers in the region. Many growers have reported threats from drug gangs, who demand protection money, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars per acre.
- The incident has also drawn attention to the broader issue of organized crime in the avocado industry, with reports of avocados grown in states not approved for export being passed through US inspections fraudulently.
- In February 2022, a similar incident led to a temporary suspension of avocado inspections in Michoacán after a USDA inspector received a threatening message. The suspension was lifted after a week, but the recurring nature of these threats underscores the persistent security issues in the region.
- Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla has pledged to continue working with US authorities to ensure the safety of inspectors and the smooth resumption of avocado and mango exports. He has expressed gratitude for the US Embassy's willingness to cooperate and is hopeful for positive developments in the near future.
