- The United States announced on Wednesday that it had suspended all government operations in the Mexican state of Michoacan because of a "threat to U.S. interests," including a halt to the inspections of avocados required for their export.
- The inspections are necessary for avocados to be shipped to the United States and their suspension could disrupt exports.
- Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla stated that the temporary halt to inspections was intended to safeguard workers following recent arrests linked to extortion.
- The western state of Michoacan is the leading exporter of avocados to the U.S. and has a high level of organized crime activity with at least four cartels operating in the region.
- The U.S. government had offered a $5 million reward for the arrest of Alfonso Fernández Magallón, known as El Poncho, who was arrested over the weekend.
- In response to the situation, 300 security personnel were deployed to the Los Reyes area as a preventive measure.
- Michoacan supplies approximately 80% of U.S. avocado imports, a product known in the region as green gold, generating around 200,000 jobs in the state.
- In 2025, Mexico sold $3.65 billion worth of avocados to the United States, with exports rising by 35% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in the previous year.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture sends inspectors to Mexico to monitor plantations and packing houses to ensure that exported produce is free of pests.
- Threats and violence against the inspectors have caused the U.S. to suspend inspections in the past.
The U.S. government has suspended all operations in Michoacan, Mexico, due to a "threat to U.S. interests," halting avocado inspections critical for exports.2
This decision follows recent arrests linked to extortion by local cartels, including the capture of Alfonso Fernández Magallón, alias "El Poncho," a leader in the avocado-growing region.356
Michoacan is the primary source of avocados for the U.S., supplying approximately 80% of imports.
The avocado industry, often referred to as "green gold," generates around 200,000 jobs in the state.8
In 2025, Mexico exported $3.65 billion worth of avocados to the U.S., with a 35% increase in exports noted in the first four months of this year compared to the previous year.9
Michoacan's Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla stated that the inspection halt aims to protect workers amid rising violence and extortion threats from cartels.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson welcomed the recent arrest of Magallón, for which a $5 million reward had been offered.
Despite the security concerns, Michoacan State Security Secretary Antonio Cruz reported no direct incidents involving avocado inspectors, although 300 security personnel have been deployed to the Los Reyes area as a precaution.7
The governor emphasized the need to ensure security conditions for the resumption of normal operations in the avocado industry.
“The suspension follows the arrest of Alfonso Fernández Magallón, alias 'El Poncho,' leader of a local cartel, for which the US had offered a $5 million reward. Michoacan supplies about 80% of US avocado imports, and 300 security personnel have been deployed to the Los Reyes area as a preventive measure.”
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