US Suspends Avocado Inspections in Mexican State of Michoacan Due to Threat
The pause follows cartel violence and extortion in the avocado belt, and Mexico said 1,500 troops were sent to protect inspectors and packing plants.
- On Thursday, Mexico deployed 1,557 troops to Michoacan after the U.S. suspended avocado inspections on Wednesday, citing non-specific threats to American personnel in the cartel-dominated region.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors must certify avocados to prevent pest entry, yet numerous cartels in Michoacan engage in violence and extortion, triggering similar suspensions in 2022 and 2024.
- The United States imports nearly 90% of its avocados from Mexico, generating $3.7 billion in sales in 2025, while the Michoacan industry employs about 200,000 people.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a "work plan" with the U.S. Embassy on Thursday, stating, "We are looking for this to be a brief suspension so we can recover exports."
- Mexico is seeking to discuss replacing U.S. staff with local food safety inspectors, though only Jalisco is currently authorized to export alongside Michoacan, leaving limited alternatives.
187 Articles
187 Articles
Why Mexican avocado exports to the U.S. have once again been stopped
Mexico began sending 1,500 more troops to the western state of Michoacan on Thursday, a day after the U.S. announced the suspension of government operations in that region — including halting avocado inspections required for their export — because of a non-specific threat to U.S. interests.
US Ceases Avocado Inspections in Mexican State of Michoacán Over Threat to American Interests
The United States has ceased all government operations in the Mexican state of Michoacán, including the inspections required for avocados from the region to be exported north, citing an ongoing threat in the region to U.S. interests. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico announced the suspension, which went into effect Aug. 5. The move stops U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors who verify that fruit from orchards and packing plants contains no pests b…
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