U.S. suspends avocado and mango inspections in Mexico

• But as demand has grown, Mexican cartels have had growing involvement in the industry.
• Studies have found the criminal groups heavily extort growers, intercept shipments and push for more avocado crops to be planted — which has heightened water supply issues and deforestation in Michoacán.

State of play: Last week, two USDA inspectors in Uruapan, Michoacán, were among a group reportedly caught in a road blockade led by community police forces asking for better wages and work standards.

• Local media reports that the workers were temporarily detained and beaten while travelling with trucks carrying avocados.
• The USDA said in a statement to Axios Latino that avocados and mangos already in transit are not affected by the suspension, which will be in place "until further notice."
• "The programs will remain paused until the security situation is reviewed and protocols and safeguards are in place" for its workers, a USDA spokesman said.

• Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said Monday that authorities and growers' associations are in touch with the U.S. agency to find a solution.

The USDA suspended avocado imports in February of 2022, after an inspector was threatened with violence, apparently by criminal groups involved in the transport of the so-called "green gold."

• That suspension lasted a week.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from the USDA.

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