US resumes avocado operations in Michoacán

In an official statement published on August 13 via X, United States Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson announced that all operations in the state of Michoacán have officially resumed. This includes inspections by US Department of Agriculture agents on the ground, a crucial step for enabling avocado exports across the border in one of only two Mexican producing areas authorized to do so. 

The reopening comes one week after authorities issued a security alert that temporarily halted all official activities in the region.

The suspension was triggered by threats against US interests, leading to a Level 4 "Do not travel" advisory, the highest alert category issued by the US Department of State.

According to the diplomat, the normalization of operations was possible through close coordination with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, which deployed over 1,500 Army and National Guard personnel to protect packing facilities and farming communities in the area.

Image courtesy of the Secretariat of Defense of Mexico via X.

According to procurement and distribution service The Produce Alliance, Mexico sent 32.1 million pounds to the US last week, a 28 percent decrease from the week before. The platform says the market is now focused on refilling the pipeline and getting business back to normal, with disruptions shifting the caliber of Mexican avocado exports to favor 48 size.

Ongoing security monitoring in Michoacán

Despite the announcement, Ambassador Johnson emphasized that the US will remain vigilant over the situation.

“We will continue to evaluate security conditions to adjust our operations as needed. Our priority is the safety of US personnel and the residents of Michoacán,” he stated.

Johnson highlighted the collaboration between the two countries, stressing that when the United States and Mexico work together, the results strengthen the security and prosperity of both nations.

This reactivation is critical for trade, as Michoacán provides between 75 and 80 percent of all Mexican avocados imported to the US.

In a press release, Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla celebrated the announcement and thanked the Scheinbaum Administration for its work in unlocking the situation that halted avocado operations in the state for nearly a week. 

“Thanks to the coordinated work with the President and federal forces, today Michoacán producers return to action to the benefit of thousands of families that depend on the cultivation and export of avocados,” he said.

Ramírez Bedolla also announced the creation of a Regional Center of Intelligence, which will operate along with state law enforcement to identify, locate, and detain those who “generate violence and threaten social peace and the producing sector.”

The politician didn’t provide details regarding when the new agency will be operative or what the scope of its powers will be.

Speaking to local newspaper El Universal, Juan Carlos Venegas, an avocado grower from Uruapan, expressed gratitude for Ambassador Johnson’s vision in facilitating the full return of official government inspections in the state.

Venegas noted that the announcement provides economic certainty and job stability to the sector, reaffirming the producers' commitment to the highest standards of quality, traceability, and food safety.

*Main image is AI-generated.

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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