Mexico Avocado Inspections to the US Resume After Both Countries Agree to Safety Plan for Inspectors

After several USDA avocado inspectors were placed in danger in Michoacan, the state that produces the most avocados in Mexico, it finally resumed avocado shipments to the United States after officials from both countries agreed on a plan to protect US avocado inspectors.

This was confirmed by Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramirez after he met with US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. The two met as Michoacan was set to lose billions of dollars in revenue after the avocado inspections were paused for about a week as the USDA requires produce to regularly be inspected so that food could be imported to the US.

In that incident that led to the United States government pausing the inspections in Michoacan and threatening trade between the US and Mexico, two USDA inspectors were assaulted and temporarily held by assailants. The Michoacan government initially downplayed the incident but soon had to meet with the US ambassador.

"The Mexican government's plan is to work hand in hand with us to ensure that each of our employees is safe so that they can do their job," said Ambassador Salazar in a statement. He also revealed that the two governments would also work together to stop deforestation and also work on the environmental certification for farm products and labor issues.

Mexico Agriculture Minister Victor Villalobos was also at the meeting, according to Reuters, and he suggested that in the future, Mexican inspectors could take the place of personnel from the US.

Michoacan has recently been invaded by various cartels from out of state, particularly the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel which is vying for control of the state against local gangs and the Familia Michoacana. These groups have long extorted farmers and landowners as they seek to profit from the lucrative agricultural trade.

Why Does the USDA Require Inspectors To Look at Mexico's Avocadoes?

Ambassador Salazar added that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will have its inspectors "gradually begin to return to the packing plants following recent aggression against them," adding that "It is still necessary to advance in guaranteeing their security before reaching full operations."

As to why the USDA needs to inspect avocadoes coming in from Mexico, CBS News explained that this is because the US grows avocadoes too and that the USDA inspectors are only ensuring that exported avocados do not carry diseases or parasites that could harm local US crops.

Avocado Prices Could Have Gone Up If the USDA Inspections Did Not Resume in Mexico

The pause in inspections did not immediately affect avocados and mangoes that are already on their way to the United States, nor did it affect the fruits and vegetables not from Michoacan. However, if this continued, the prices of avocadoes would have inevitably increased.

While the US also produces its own avocadoes, a large number of the fruit being consumed comes from Mexico, with a vast majority coming from Michoacan. Because of the attack on the USDA inspectors pausing inspections, the state would not be able to export its avocadoes to the US, thus lowering the supply, and with such a large demand for the fruit, prices would go up.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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