Mexican avocado seed weevil exports, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): Mexican avocado is back at the center of attention for two situations that raised alarms in the sector: the possible presence of seed weevil in some shipments and a dispute over low prices that affected producers in Michoacán.
Amid doubts about the safety of the fruit, Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) clarified the national production situation and the health status of one of the country’s most important agricultural products. During the morning press conference on Wednesday, November 4, Secretary Columba López Gutiérrez ruled out the presence of seed weevil in avocado orchards in Michoacán.
López Gutiérrez said the state has not recorded cases of this pest in its orchards during the 28 years it has been exporting the product. She also explained that Michoacán has 50 municipalities recognized as free of avocado seed weevil and maintains monitoring mechanisms to protect its crops.
Measures include registering orchards, identifying owners or leaseholders, placing traps, and conducting random inspections of 500 hectares each month. Regarding recently circulated images of held shipments, López Gutiérrez explained that they involved different situations: one shipment came from Jalisco and was headed to an avocado oil processing plant, while in another case linked to Nayarit, the organism detected was outside the fruit, in the boxes used for transport.
The National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) reported on November 2 that it detected two avocado shipments with pest presence on October 28. One was returned to its place of origin and the other was destroyed to prevent the spread of the organism.
The health agency also reported that between August 13 and October 30 it inspected 1,774 shipments carrying 7,391 tons of avocado. Authorities are therefore maintaining phytosanitary controls to protect pest-free zones and ensure the product meets international market requirements.
Mexican avocado is present in 36 countries, although the United States is one of its main export markets, followed by Canada, Japan and Costa Rica. According to Senasica figures, 37,840 export certificates had been issued during 2026, supporting the shipment of nearly one million tons of avocado.
Michoacán is the leading producer of this fruit in Mexico, with 50 municipalities recognized as free of seed weevil and 185,705 hectares under this phytosanitary status. Mexican avocado is therefore ready to cross borders again, while the sector seeks to make the business profitable for the producers who make it possible for the fruit to reach tables.
