Mexico bolsters Avocado region security!
Mexico City, Aug 6 (EFE).-
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday a plan to bolster security in the avocado-producing regions of Michoacán and open a dialogue with the United States to resume avocado exports “as soon as possible” following the withdrawal of US inspectors due to a security alert.
During her morning press conference, the president noted that after meeting with Mexican avocado growers, she initiated a work plan to “guarantee even greater security” in Michoacán.
She also stated she would propose to the US the possibility that, “in the last resort,” US inspectors could be temporarily replaced by Mexican personnel.
“We hope it resumes very soon… there is a very good action plan,” she stated.
Sheinbaum explained that the federal government, through Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, and the Ministry of Agriculture (Sader), has requested a meeting with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reactivate inspections.
“We asked the US Embassy to meet as soon as possible with the Department of Agriculture… so that we can return to this work or, in the last resort, replace it with inspectors from Senasica (National Service for Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality), which is also a possibility,” she affirmed.
The president noted that the plan also includes reinforcing the National Guard’s presence in other avocado-producing areas of Michoacán.
“There have been several very important arrests, but there is another important area where they are asking us for a (National) Guard presence as well, so we are going to send personnel,” she indicated.
Sheinbaum expressed confidence that the suspension will be short-lived and ruled out major economic repercussions if inspections resume shortly.
“If it is for a short time, it won’t have a significant impact… there is a very good action plan, so we believe it will be accepted and all activity will recover very soon,” she maintained.
The temporary suspension of US agricultural staff activities in Michoacán halted avocado certifications and shipments to the United States on Wednesday, after the US Embassy issued an alert regarding a “threat against American interests.”
The measure affects US Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors, who are responsible for verifying compliance with phytosanitary requirements at authorized packing facilities for avocado exports from Michoacán, Mexico’s primary producing state.
The State Department maintains Michoacán at its Level 4 travel advisory, “Do Not Travel,” due to terrorism and crime, and restricts travel by US government employees in the state.
The Association of Producers and Export Packers of Avocados of Mexico (APEAM) reported that only fruit received prior to the suspension can be processed, while new shipments destined for the US market remain halted.
According to Sader data, Mexico exports over one million tons of avocados annually, and in the first four months of 2026 alone, 501,824 tons of the fruit had already been exported.
This is not the first time Washington has interrupted inspections for security reasons.
In February 2022, it temporarily suspended certifications following threats against an inspector in Uruapan, and in June 2024, it halted them again after two USDA employees were assaulted and detained while performing official duties.
In both cases, inspections resumed days later after security protocols for US personnel were reinforced. EFE
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