Mexico avocado: US inspection suspensions and Michoacán deforestation

The United States suspended inspections of avocados from Mexico three times: in 2022 after a threat to a US Department of Agriculture inspector, in 2024 after an attack on two employees, and in August 2026, when Michoacán operations were halted and Mexico sent 1,500 soldiers. The Michoacán governor described the 2026 incident as a protest. US inspections partially resumed afterwards, according to AFP.

Mexico's avocado exports reached US$3.78 billion in 2024, with more than 80% going to the United States. A trade outlet projected US$4 billion for 2025.

The Center for Responsible Investment (CRI) reported in 2023 that forest-cleared land was found in 49 of 56 exporting municipalities, and that in Ocumicho two leaders who had banned outside avocado planting were shot, one of whom died. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) reported gross deforestation in Michoacán of 269,676 hectares in 2001–2018, said extortion ran through the whole supply chain, and cited unnamed official sources for the claim that 80% of orchards were established illegally.

In Chile's Petorca province, villagers received water by tanker twice a week, according to reporting. Chile's 1981 Water Code made water rights free, perpetual and tradable; the code was reformed in 2022 despite lobbying. Reporting put water use at about 320 litres per avocado in the area against a world average of 70 litres, and found at least 65 illegal pipes.

In the European Union, per-capita avocado consumption was 1.40 kg in 2020 and 1.90 kg in 2024, with about 88% imported; 45% of external supply came from Peru, 9% from Chile and about 1% from Mexico.