US suspends avocado inspections in Mexican state, potentially disrupting fruit’s export from top producing region

By Michael Rios, CNN

(CNN) — The US suspended government activities in Mexico’s Michoacan state on Wednesday due to an unspecified “threat against American interests,” in a move that could potentially delay avocado exports from the state to the US.

The suspension will disrupt the work of US Department of Agriculture personnel that inspect avocado exports to the US, Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said.

A USDA spokesperson told CNN that any produce that requires its onsite approval and hasn’t completed the process isn’t eligible for importation. Other shipments would be allowed into the US after they complete the approval process.

“The shipment of fruit destined for export is not authorized, so each packing plant must evaluate and make the operational decisions it deems appropriate regarding harvesting during this day,” Mexico’s avocado producers’ association APEAM said.

Only avocados received on Tuesday in the presence of the USDA will be processed, the association said.

It’s happening as security forces are carrying out operations against extortion in the state, the governor noted. Cartels regularly extort producers in protection schemes, according to a 2024 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

“We’re working together to address any concerns and ensure the swift restoration of operations, always safeguarding the development and tranquility of Michoacan,” he said.

CNN has reached out to APEAM and the US Embassy in Mexico for more information.

Michoacan’s Public Security Secretary José Antonio Cruz Medina met with USDA representatives on Wednesday to review a request for more security measures for US personnel, the state’s security agency said. It added that the civil guard would boost operations in the region to protect the public.

APEAM said it would meet with relevant authorities in Mexico City to address the security situation and minimize the impact on its industry.

Ramírez Bedolla said the avocado trade is essential to Michoacan, Mexico’s leading avocado producing state, as it generates more than 200,000 jobs.

In 2024, the US paused all avocado imports from the state for more than a week after two US avocado inspectors were assaulted and detained at a police roadblock. The pause left Mexican growers out of tens of millions of dollars and temporarily sent the price of a carton of the fruit in the US soaring by 40 percent, according to analysis firm RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness.

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CNN’s Mauricio Torres contributed to this report.