U.S. government inspections of avocados and mangoes in Michoacán, Mexico, are set to gradually resume, according to an announcement by U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar on Friday. This comes a week after inspections were suspended due to an assault on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors in the region.
"The USDA inspectors will gradually begin to return to the packing plants following recent aggression against them," Salazar stated. "However, it is still necessary to advance in guaranteeing their security before reaching full operations."
The suspension occurred after two USDA employees were assaulted and temporarily detained by assailants in Michoacán, prompting concerns about the safety of the inspectors. These employees are part of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, responsible for ensuring that avocados and mangoes exported to the U.S. do not carry diseases that could harm American crops.
Michoacán's Governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, attempted to downplay the severity of the situation, suggesting that the inspectors were never at risk and had been stopped during a protest by local residents. He assured that state forces were providing security for the region's avocado producers and packers. However, the incident underscores the broader issue of violence and criminal activity in Michoacán, a state plagued by cartel violence and extortion.
Many avocado growers in Michoacán have reported threats from drug gangs demanding protection money, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars per acre. There have also been instances of organized crime attempting to pass avocados from non-approved states through U.S. inspections.
In response to the recent assault, the U.S. temporarily halted inspections in Michoacán, a significant disruption given the state's status as Mexico's largest avocado producer. This is not the first time such measures have been necessary; in February 2022, the U.S. suspended avocado inspections after a USDA inspector received a threatening message. That suspension was lifted after about a week.
Michoacán is currently experiencing severe cartel violence, particularly between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the local gang known as the Viagras. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Michoacán, warning Americans not to travel to the state due to high risks of crime and kidnapping.
The pause in inspections did not entirely halt the flow of Mexican avocados to the U.S., as the state of Jalisco, which began exporting avocados to the U.S. in 2022, continued its shipments. Additionally, many avocados from Michoacán were already in transit.
Ambassador Salazar expressed optimism about the progress being made towards ensuring the safety of USDA inspectors. "I am optimistic things are moving in a positive direction, but we will not be satisfied until our inspectors can work without threats to their safety," Salazar stated.
Earlier this week, Salazar announced plans to travel to Mexico to meet with Governor Bedolla to address these security concerns and other related issues. This visit aims to reinforce the importance of safety for inspectors and the need for continued cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican authorities to maintain the flow of agricultural trade.
