Key facts
- U.S. agricultural inspections for Mexican avocados were suspended due to security threats in Michoacan.
- Mexico has deployed 1,500 additional troops to the region to bolster security.
- Michoacan is the primary avocado-producing state for the U.S. market.
- The suspension is a preventive measure following recent arrests linked to extortion cases.
- Previous export halts were due to direct violence against U.S. inspectors.
Mexico began sending 1,500 additional troops to the western state of Michoacan on Thursday, a day after the U.S. announced the suspension of government operations in that region, including halting avocado inspections required for their export, due to unspecified threats to U.S. interests. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the increased security in avocado production areas to spur the resumption of exports as soon as possible and prevent serious impact on Mexico's economy or U.S. supply. The United States is a major consumer of Mexican avocados, with more than 80% of avocados consumed coming from Mexico, amounting to $3.7 billion in sales for Mexico in 2025. U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors verify quality on-site to prevent pests from entering the country. Without inspections, imports stop and prices in the U.S. may increase. These agricultural inspections were suspended on Wednesday for security reasons in Michoacan, the main avocado producer and an area with high cartel activity. Previous pauses on exports were triggered by violence against U.S. inspectors, such as an assault on two USDA employees in Michoacan in 2024. This time, no specific incident was reported, and Michoacan authorities stated that the suspension was preventive due to recent arrests linked to extortion cases. The California Avocado Commission called for stronger monitoring of fruit headed to the U.S. after a pest was reported at a Mexico packinghouse and said cartels shouldn't be allowed to intervene in the industry. Mexican analyst David Saucedo believes that issues with avocado exports are among the reasons the Trump administration has designated four cartels operating in Michoacán as terrorist organizations. The suspension solely affects avocados grown in Michoacan, but only one other Mexican state, Jalisco, is authorized by the USDA to export to the United States since 2022, and its volume is much smaller. Generally, the situation is resolved within a matter of days because export pauses hurt both Mexico and the U.S., and the cartels. In Michoacan, the industry employs about 200,000 people. Lengthy pauses could lead to shortages or price increases. A producer from Michoacan stated he pays 1 peso per kilo exported in extortion fees and exports about 90 metric tons a day. When inspections are halted, Mexican authorities typically respond with offers of increased security, as Sheinbaum announced. She also suggested that Mexican officials could do the inspections, an option that has been considered in the past, but the USDA remained in charge of the verifications, albeit with Mexican security forces accompanying them.