Mexico avocado exports resume after price dispute agreement, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): The Mexican government announced Wednesday that avocado harvesting and exports to all markets, including the United States, will resume Thursday following an agreement between packing companies and workers to resolve a dispute over the collapse of fruit prices in the state of Michoacán, according to EFE.
Exports will be restored Thursday after packers and workers reached the deal, the government said. Since October 23, Michoacán producers had suspended harvesting and blocked highways to demand better prices per kilo from packers.
At the same time, detection of the avocado seed borer pest in shipments from other states led to the destruction of about 52 tons of fruit. Mexico is the world’s largest avocado producer, and Michoacán accounts for roughly 75% of national output.
In the last season, the state exported 1.25 million tons to the United States, its main buyer, and about 211,000 tons to other international markets. The agreement was reached Tuesday night after the price per kilo fell to between 13 and 20 pesos (roughly US$0.65 to US$1.00), a level producers say does not cover basic production costs.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference that the price drop reflected growing international competition, as other countries have increased avocado supply in foreign markets, pressuring margins for Mexican producers and agricultural laborers.
“We are working with the producers, cutters and agro-exporters, and also with the United States, to see how exports and the price of avocados can always be guaranteed,” the president said.
Agriculture Secretary Columba López ruled out pest risks for export shipments, stating that in 28 years of international commercialization Michoacán has recorded no cases of the avocado seed borer in its orchards. “We are certain, we are super sure that there is absolutely no seed borer pest, and tomorrow, as I already said, agro-export is renewed,” she said.
López added that traceability to guarantee food safety “is very important.”
Authorities clarified that recently circulated images corresponded to isolated cases in Jalisco and Nayarit involving fruit destined for industrial oil processing or insects found outside packing facilities, and that this product was not part of the export chain.
The National Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (Senasica) and local plant health boards keep parcels in 50 pest-free municipalities registered and conduct random inspections each month covering 500 hectares to ensure phytosanitary standards.
