The multi-billion dollar industry of avocados from Mexico is at risk after the United States suspended inspections and mango imports. This follows an attack of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s inspectors by the residents of Aranza in Michoacán state.
Though not hurt, the American inspectors could not complete their checking routine in Paracho, Michoacán on June 15, 2024.
Pointedly, suspensions could delay avocado shipments into the U.S., which earned Mexico $3.2 billion in 2023.
Not all residents are in favor of the inspection tiff, however. For instance, local farmer Jesús Germán de la Cruz Villegas voiced fears of export losses to AP News on June 19.
Villegas added that the government ought to guarantee the security of USDA’s inspectors to avert an export crisis.
The United States carries out routine inspections within Mexico and offers export permits to safeguard its own orchards from infection.
Mexicans are averse to these check-ups and often show resistance against cross-state interference. In 2022, USDA received death threats when investigating smuggling of the fruit from Puebla to Michoacán, leading to a one-week suspension.
Puebla in the central highlands of Mexico is among states that lack permits to export avocados into the U.S.
Indeed, only Michoacán on the Pacific west and Jalisco in west-central Mexico can export avocados to North America and Japan.
Around 300,000 locals of Michoacán depend on the avocado industry for a livelihood, on farms and at processing sites.
The state’s mild climate and fertile volcanic soil allows a year-round avocado season, with a spring seasonal opener.
In February 2024, late winter supplies afforded the state to ship 138,000 tonnes for the American Superbowl half-time show.
Production Down in California
Meanwhile, domestic supplies are ebbing in the biggest avocado-producing state in the U.S., California.
The California Avocado Commission estimates the 2023-24 output at 208 million tonnes vis-á-vis 2022-23’s 237 million pounds.
Compounded with the temporary supply stoppage from Mexico, this could have a ripple effect on prices. Wholesale rates in California were stable on June 6, 2024 at between $0.66 and $2.00 a pound for Hass avocados.
Therefore, the inspection suspension of avocados from Mexico could put further pressure on home production within the U.S. As the following statistics show, Mexico is the all-out champ in U.S.’ avocado imports.
U.S.-Mexico Avocado Statistics
The U.S. imports more avocados than any other fruit apart from tomatoes, worth $3 billion in 2023. Americans ordered 2.78 billion pounds of raw avocados from around the world in 2023, 89% of which from Mexico. In total consumption, Mexico’s avocados account for the bulk of avocados eaten in the U.S., while California provides 10%.
Which is the top avocado-producing nation?
In 2022, Mexico ranked 1st in global avocado production at 2,442,945 tonnes while the United States was ninth at 216,600 tonnes. Mexico also ranked the top exporter of avocados worth $3.5 billion or 47.6% of the global export value in 2022. The U.S. came in 7th in 2022 at $149.7 million or 2% of the world’s export value.
What is the annual consumption of avocados in Mexico and the U.S.?
Mexicans consumed the most avocados per capita globally in 2022 at 8.1 kg per person per year. Americans, meanwhile, consumed 4 kg per person annually in 2022.