Mexico's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA) has granted phytosanitary status to 10 guava-producing communities in Michoacán.

The low fruit fly presence status applies to around 1,800ha of land that annually produces 29,300 metric tons (MT) of guavas, in the municipalities Jungapeo and Zitácuaro.

The new status allows guava growers to better place their products in the domestic market and facilitates the fruit's movement through the country.

To gain this status, growers had to comply with standards set out in the Mexican National Law NOM-023-FITO-1995, which establishes the national campaign against fruit flies.

The communities that have the new status are Huanguitio, El Paso, La Florida, La Laja, La Mora, La Soledad, Toluquilla, Los Reyes, Mesa Alta and Mesas de Enandio.

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