Avocado producers in the State of Mexico await US authorization to begin exports

The State of Mexico has over 33,000 planted acres and produces nearly 145,000 metric tons of fruit a year, making it the third avocado-producing state in the country, after Michoacán and Jalisco.

In conversation with FreshFruitPortal.com, Luis Eduardo Juárez, General Director of the Association of Avocado Producers and Exporters of the State of Mexico (APEAMEX, for its initials in Spanish), explained that the local industry has been working toward unlocking access to the American market for the nearly 5,000 acres in Temascaltepec that meet the necessary requirements. 

“We are very advanced. However, we still do not have authorization from the US government to export,” he noted, adding that there are two packing facilities ready to be authorized by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS).

Juárez detailed that Mexican authorities have already validated compliance with the requirements of the Binational Operational Work Plan, so the process is now in the hands of the US government. However, the final resolution has been delayed, and the specific reasons behind it remain unknown.

The executive believes it could be related to other priority items on the bilateral agenda between Mexico and the United States, such as negotiations stemming from the non-renewal of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

"We have no information that there is any pending requirement. The Mexican authorities have informed us that the negotiations are ongoing, but we do not know what’s holding things up. Still, we trust in the efforts of our authorities," he emphasized.

Once the United States greenlights avocado exports from the State of Mexico, those who will benefit most will be small farmers. According to APEAMEX, more than 90 percent of producers in the area own fewer than 12 acres, largely comprising the sector with family-based operations.

Although the authorization could attract investment and larger-scale producers, Juárez believes the production structure is unlikely to change.

"We believe that small producers will continue to predominate,” the industry leader said. “There is significant organization within the sector and a strong sense of belonging in producing high-quality avocados in the State of Mexico."

Avocados from (the State of) Mexico

María de los Ángeles Rubí is an avocado producer in the area and a member of APEAMEX. Her family was a pioneer in cultivating the fruit in the 1980s and currently manages a field of nearly 300 acres.

“For four years, we, along with APEAMEX, have been working to make the State of Mexico the third Mexican entity authorized to export avocados to the US market, after Michoacán and Jalisco,” she mentioned.

Rubí noted that producers expect progress during the next certification period scheduled for the fall. Expectations are high because invested resources have been vast: the sector promotes programs for recycling agrochemical containers, responsible waste management, and agreements with universities to strengthen technical training.

This, Juárez adds, is part of the sector’s environmental commitment. 

"We are ensuring that new plantations do not invade forest areas. Before authorizing an orchard, it is verified that the land is classified as agricultural and not as a forest or natural protected area," he explained.

To further marketing efforts, producers are working to register the "Aguacate Mexiquense" brand to strengthen the product’s commercial identity and eventually move towards a certification of origin.

A small but important contribution to export supply

With production levels well below those of Michoacán, the State of Mexico’s immediate goal is to help the national export supply rather than competing for leadership positions with neighboring states.  

The APEAMEX leader noted that currently 96 percent of the avocado produced in the state is sold in the domestic market. Meanwhile, Canada absorbs three percent of the output, and Japan receives one percent.

Peak harvest season takes place between November and February. The period between June and August, known locally as the "loca" harvest, sees lower volumes.

While producers await the US export authorization, APEAMEX says it will continue to strengthen the crop’s health, safety, and quality, striving to consolidate the State of Mexico as a new avocado supplier to the United States.

*Images courtesy of Luis Eduardo Juárez. 

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