California avocado growers are expressing frustration over a recent decision by the U.S. government to transfer the responsibility of pest inspections of Mexican orchards to the Mexican government. Since 1997, inspectors hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been conducting checks to prevent the import of avocados carrying insects and diseases. However, incidents in Mexico involving threats and violence against inspectors who refused to certify deceptive shipments have raised concerns. As a result, the U.S. has previously suspended inspections due to safety issues.
The California Avocado Commission penned an open letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack criticizing the shift in inspection responsibilities. The current inspection process, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), involves U.S. inspectors monitoring Mexican orchards and packing houses to ensure that exported avocados meet the required standards and do not pose a threat to U.S. crops.
Farmers in California are questioning the decision to replace U.S. inspectors with Mexican government inspectors, as they worry about the effectiveness of Mexico’s inspection procedures in the face of potential threats and coercion. The Commission highlighted that the physical presence of U.S. inspectors in Mexico has been a deterrent against fraudulent activities, and they seek assurances from APHIS that the new arrangement will provide equivalent or superior protection for their industry.
Mexico’s Agriculture Department announced the agreement, stating that it reflects the trust in Mexican growers who have maintained a track record of sanitary exports for over 27 years. However, recent incidents, such as threats against U.S. inspectors in Michoacan and Jalisco, the only certified states for avocado exports to the U.S., have raised doubts about the effectiveness of Mexico’s oversight.
In 2022, inspections were halted after an inspector was threatened in Michoacan for refusing to certify a suspicious shipment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cited concerns over integrity issues and attempts to pass off non-certified avocados as originating from approved states. Moreover, assaults against USDA employees in Michoacan led to the suspension of inspections in Mexico’s largest avocado-producing region.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture did not provide immediate answers regarding the reasons behind the decision to shift inspection responsibilities or its connection to the security threats. It is important to note that Mexico currently supplies around 80% of avocado imports to the U.S., as American growers cannot meet the entire demand for avocados in the country or provide year-round supply.
