California avocado growers furious after US hands pest control duties to Mexico

LAUREN TAYLOR: THE US HAS DECIDED TO TRANSFER PEST INSPECTION DUTIES FOR MEXICAN AVOCADOS TO MEXICO. THIS DECISION RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE RELATIONS.

THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO COMMISSION IS STRONGLY AGAINST THIS MOVE AND WARNS THAT IT COULD BE THE END OF THEIR INDUSTRY.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspects Mexican avocados before they enter the U.S., making sure they don’t carry pests that could threaten U.S. crops.

IN A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TOM VILSACK, THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO COMMISSION WRITES, “THIS ACTION RETURNS THE LONG ESTABLISHED INSPECTION PROCESS DESIGNED TO PREVENT INVASIONS OF KNOWN PESTS INTO MEXICO THAT WOULD DESTROY OUR INDUSTRY. THIS PROCESS WAS THE BASIS FOR THE FIRST DECISION TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF AVOCADOS FROM MEXICO INTO THE UNITED STATES.”

HOWEVER, THESE USDA INSPECTORS FACED INCREASING DANGERS IN MEXICO WHILE DOING THEIR JOBS.

IN 2022, INSPECTIONS WERE STOPPED AFTER A U.S. INSPECTOR RECEIVED THREATS AGAINST HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY IN MICHOACAN, WHERE DRUG CARTELS ROUTINELY EXTORT GROWERS.

AND IN JUNE, TWO USDA EMPLOYEES WERE ATTACKED AND BRIEFLY DETAINED IN MICHOACAN.

MEXICO PROVIDES ABOUT 80% OF THE U.S. IMPORTS OF AVOCADOS. THE INSPECTION CHANGE COULD HAVE IMPACT ON THE MARKET BECAUSE U.S. PRODUCERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE COUNTRY’S FULL DEMAND OR PROVIDE FRUIT YEAR-ROUND, COMPLICATING THE TRADE RELATIONSHIP.

Mexican authorities are pleased with the news, claiming they have not had a single untreated pet problem in their 27 years of existence.