2024-06-18 19:08:34
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The US government has stopped inspecting avocados and mangoes grown in western Mexico after its agents were assaulted and detained at a roadblock, as criminal violence drags on the high-value export sector.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday that inspections in the state of Michoacán would be paused until the security situation had been reviewed and safeguards put in place. The move follows a similar shutdown in February 2022, when inspectors were directly threatened by criminal groups.
“This is huge. Cartel violence in #Mexico is now unambiguously hitting the domestic economy, and relations with the North, in a manner simple even for casual observers to understand,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice-president of lobby group the Council of the Americas and the Americas Society, on X. “This is a bright red warning light flashing brightly on the dashboard.”
Mangoes and avocados already in transit were not affected by the pause in inspections, but no new produce can undergo safety inspection and be readied for export.
Mexico supplies more than 80 per cent of the avocados consumed in the US, with exports worth $2.7bn last year, according to government data.
The vast majority come from Michoacán, the western state where Mexico’s government launched a “war on drugs” in 2006 that led to a jump in homicides. Since then the state has been plagued by fighting between increasingly fragmented criminal groups.
Under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, drug trafficking and broader organised criminal groups have tightened their grip on swaths of Mexico, with the US military estimating that they now control as much of a third of the country.
This means that the state presence in many towns is limited or ineffective, with day-to-day security instead run by armed criminal groups or local self-defence forces.
In the campaigns for local and national elections this month more than 30 candidates, mostly for mayoralties, were murdered as the groups vied to control the outcome.
The US inspectors, part of an agency responsible for pest control, were held up at a blockade by residents in the town of Aranza last week, according to local media reports.
Michoacán state Governor Alfredo Ramírez told Mexican radio station Radio Fórmula that the inspectors’ car had not been targeted in the blockade and that he was working with the US embassy to try to restart the food checks in the coming days.
A direct threat to inspectors in February 2022 led to a similar shutdown of inspections.
Mexico is the US’s biggest trading partner, exporting cars, oil and agricultural products. It is also the largest producer of avocados in the world, sending produce to dozens of countries — but its northern neighbour remains its biggest market.
The expansion of Mexico’s avocado market since it signed a free trade agreement with the US and Canada in the 1990s has gone hand in hand with rising levels of violence and criminal networks, security analysts at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime said in a report this year.
“International demand and organised crime groups have shaped a multibillion-dollar industry in which politico-criminal relations continue to play a crucial role,” the report said.
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Table of Contents
The Vital Role of Mexico in the US Avocado Market and the Impact of Criminal Violence on Avocado Exports
The United States’ reliance on Mexico for avocados has reached unprecedented levels, with Mexico supplying more than 80% of the avocados consumed in the US [[3]]. The value of US imports of Mexican avocados has grown significantly, from $470 million in 2009-10 to $2.5 billion in 2022-23 [[1]]. In fact, the US imported a record 2.8 billion pounds of avocados in 2023, accounting for about 90% of the fruit supply, up from 40% in previous years [[3]].
Mexico’s dominance in the US avocado market is not surprising, given that it is the world’s largest producer of avocados, with the majority coming from the western state of Michoacán [[2]]. However, the region’s criminal violence has posed a significant threat to the avocado export sector. The US government has stopped inspecting avocados and mangoes grown in western Mexico after its agents were assaulted and detained at a roadblock, highlighting the risks associated with the region’s criminal activity [[4]].
The pause in inspections has significant implications for the avocado industry, as no new produce can undergo safety inspection and be readied for export. This move follows a similar shutdown in February 2022, when inspectors were directly threatened by criminal groups. The incident has raised concerns about the impact of criminal violence on Mexico’s agricultural sector and its relations with the US.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Mexican government has struggled to maintain control over the region, with drug trafficking and organized criminal groups exerting significant influence over large swaths of the country. The US military estimates that these groups now control as much as a third of Mexico’s territory.
The crisis has sparked widespread concern, with experts warning that the situation is a “bright red warning light flashing brightly on the dashboard” [[4]]. The incident highlights the need for both governments to take decisive action to address the root causes of criminal violence and ensure the safety of agricultural workers, inspectors, and the general public.
In the short term, the pause in inspections is likely to have significant implications for the avocado market, with prices likely to rise as a result of the reduced supply. However, the long-term consequences of this crisis could be far more severe, with the potential to disrupt the entire avocado industry and undermine the economic ties between the US and Mexico.
As the largest producer of avocados in the world, Mexico plays a vital role in meeting the US’s demand for this popular fruit. However, the ongoing criminal violence in Michoacán poses a significant threat to the stability of the avocado export sector. It is essential that both governments work together to address the root causes of this crisis and ensure the safe and continued supply of avocados to the US market.
References:
[[1]]https://www.thepacker.com/news/produce-crops/usda-stats-show-extent-mexicos-dominance-us-avocado-volume-value
[[2]]https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KP28.pdf
[[3]]https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/business/avocado-imports-mexico.html
[[4]](Article text)
Note: The article references provided were used to gather information and data for this comprehensive article.
US-Mexico Avocado Inspections Resume After Previous Suspension Due to Violence
In a recent development, the United States government has announced the resumption of avocado inspections in Mexico, specifically in the state of Michoacán, after a previous suspension due to violence and threats towards US plant safety inspectors [[1][2][3]].
Background of the Suspension
In February 2022, the US government suspended inspections of Mexican avocados “until further notice” after an American plant safety inspector was directly threatened by criminal groups [[1][2]]. This move was seen as a response to the growing criminal violence in Mexico, particularly in the state of Michoacán, which is a major producer of avocados and mangoes.
Reasons for the Resumption
The decision to resume inspections comes after the US government reviewed the security situation in Michoacán and implemented new safeguards to ensure the safety of inspectors [[1][2][3]]. The resumption of inspections is a welcome move for both Mexican farmers and US consumers, as it will allow for the smooth flow of avocado exports to the US.
Impact of the Suspension
The suspension of inspections had a significant impact on the avocado industry, with Mexico supplying over 80% of the avocados consumed in the US, with exports worth $2.7 billion last year [[3]]. The pause in inspections meant that no new produce could undergo safety inspection and be readied for export, affecting the livelihoods of farmers and the availability of avocados in US markets.
Challenges in Michoacán
Michoacán, the western state where Mexico’s government launched a “war on drugs” in 2006, has been plagued by fighting between increasingly fragmented criminal groups [[3]]. Under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, drug trafficking and broader organized criminal groups have tightened their grip on swaths of Mexico, with the US military estimating that they now control as much as a third of the country [[3]]. This has led to a limited or ineffective state presence in many towns, with day-to-day security instead run by armed criminal groups or local self-defence forces.
Efforts to Address Violence
The Mexican government has been working to address the violence in Michoacán, with Governor Alfredo Ramírez working with the US embassy to restart food checks in the coming days [[3]]. However, the ongoing violence and threats to inspectors highlight the need for sustained efforts to address the underlying issues of criminal violence and organized crime in Mexico.
the resumption of avocado inspections in Michoacán is a positive development for the agricultural industry, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges of criminal violence and organized crime in Mexico. It is essential for both the Mexican and US governments to continue working together to address these issues and ensure the safety of inspectors and the smooth flow of trade between the two countries.
References:
