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The governor of the Mexican state of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, assured this Wednesday that the suspension of avocado export certifications to the United States is a preventive security measure and expressed confidence in their prompt resumption.
¿Por qué EU suspendió las certificaciones del aguacate mexicano?
In a message shared on social media, the state governor confirmed that the United States Embassy temporarily suspended the government activities of its staff in Michoacán, including inspectors from the USDA APHIS program (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), who are responsible for verifying compliance with phytosanitary protocols to export avocados to the US market.
"A temporary suspension of government activities by the United States Embassy in Michoacán was decreed, especially concerning the USDA APHIS inspectors, who are the ones who cover the protocols for exporting avocados to the United States," he stated.
Ramírez Bedolla pointed out that his administration maintains permanent communication with the US diplomatic mission and with federal authorities to restore the inspections.
"We are in communication with the embassy and working in a coordinated manner with them (...) and we hope that the inspectors' operations will be resumed as soon as possible," he said.
The governor maintained that, according to information provided by the Embassy, the decision is a preventive measure.
"They have informed us that these are preventive actions carried out by the United States Government to safeguard its employees," he stated, while noting that the suspension occurs amid recent federal operations against extortion in the state.
Likewise, he highlighted the economic importance of the avocado sector for Michoacán. "The avocado industry is fundamental for us; it generates more than 200,000 jobs in the state," he indicated.
Hours earlier, the United States Embassy reported that it suspended, starting August 5, the activities of its agricultural staff in Michoacán due to a threat against American interests, without specifying the nature of the risk.
The measure affects the USDA regulatory officials responsible for certifying packing facilities authorized to export avocados, which, in effect, has paralyzed shipments of the fruit to the United States, the main destination for Mexican exports.
¿Cuándo podrían reanudarse las certificaciones del aguacate mexicano?
The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (Apeam) reported that only fruit received on August 4 under the supervision of a US inspector could be processed.
The fruit brought in this Wednesday can be unloaded but not processed, while no new shipments for export are authorized.
¿Cuántas toneladas de aguacate exporta México a Estados Unidos?
The organization highlighted that between January 5 and 31 of this year, 127,000 tons of avocados were exported to the United States, up from the 114,000 tons sent in the same period of 2025.
In addition, data from the Ministry of Economy shows that between January and April, Mexico exported 501,824 tons of the fruit, compared to 370,551 tons in the same period of the previous year.
It is not the first time that Washington has interrupted certifications for security reasons.
In February 2022, it suspended inspections after a US inspector received threats in Uruapan, while in June 2024 it stopped them again following the assault and temporary detention of two USDA employees.
In both cases, work resumed days later after security protocols for US personnel were strengthened. EFE
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