The United States government has halted inspections of avocados and mangoes in the Mexican state of Michoacán, a major avocado-exporting region, citing security concerns. This suspension, confirmed by a U.S. government spokesperson and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), means that while avocados already in transit or from other Mexican states are unaffected, new shipments from Michoacán will be severely disrupted. This move by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, which also confirmed the immediate suspension of all its activities in Michoacán due to a direct threat to U.S. interests, has significant implications for the agricultural trade.
The immediate operational consequences include processing only fruit received on August 4th with prior USDA supervision. Any fruit entering on the day of the suspension can be unloaded but not processed or shipped for export. The Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) has confirmed that this measure has paralyzed agricultural inspection work in Michoacán, which is a key economic driver for the state. Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla is in discussions with U.S. authorities to swiftly resolve the situation, but the suspension is expected to create considerable market volatility and increase prices for avocados.
The halt on inspections comes amidst an already tightening supply for Mexican avocados, with industry giants like Westfalia Fruit declaring force majeure due to dwindling shipments. Despite this, U.S. avocado imports from Mexico have been at record levels, reaching 2.6 billion pounds in the 2025-26 season, driven by strong demand from events like college football and Cinco de Mayo. While the current suspension doesn't block all Mexican avocado shipments, as Jalisco is also an exporter and Michoacán avocados are already en route, the long-term impact on supply and market prices could be substantial.
