ProForest Avocado gains US support as a Deforestation-Free Avocado certification
The ProForest Avocado certification is solidifying its position as a public environmental protection policy and an international benchmark within the avocado market, said Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, Governor of the Mexican state of Michoacán, one of the few areas certified to export avocados into the United States.
Ramírez Bedolla’s remarks come following 50 environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and five US Senators gave their support to the deforestation-free production standard, as reported by the Government of Michoacán.
The exclusive ProForest Avocado standard
Ramírez Bedolla detailed that US Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) signed a statement requesting the governments of Mexico and the United States to exclusively adopt the ProForest Avocado standard for the fruit’s trade, highlighting its "zero deforestation" approach.
Mexican news outlet El Economista reported that the signing NGOs include the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, Mighty Earth, the Xerces Society, and the Endangered Species Coalition, among others.
For the Mexican representative, this support recognizes Michoacan’s work in forest conservation and the government’s efforts to address climate change.
The governor explained that the certification uses the Guardián Forestal system, a technological platform that combines real-time satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to verify that certified avocados do not come from deforested areas.
Ramírez Bedolla also noted that various US retailers already offer avocados certified under this program, and that more than 60 packaging companies, responsible for approximately 90 percent of Mexican avocado exports to that market, are already operating with the ProForest Avocado certification.
*Images are referential.
The second edition of the Global Avocado Summit will be held on November 11, 2026, at the Monticello Casino Events Center in Santiago, Chile. Organized by Paltas de Chile and Yentzen Group, the meeting seeks to bring together the main players in a growing industry
The event has established itself as a key space for addressing commercial and sustainability issues in the industry, bringing together producers, exporters, buyers, certifiers, and innovators to analyze the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
For more info, contact events@yentzengroup.com
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ProForest Certification confirms 90% of Mexican avocados for US market are deforestation-free
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