Mexican avocado pickers returned to the fields this week after U.S. authorities lifted a security alert that had temporarily halted exports from Michoacán. Francisco Isidro, a harvester with two decades of experience, climbed a 20‑foot tree shortly after the restart was announced, filling a box of avocados bound for the United States and shouting in relief after several days without work.
The alert, which had affected Michoacán—the state producing the vast majority of Mexico’s avocados and where four cartels are designated terrorist organizations by the United States—had left over 200,000 industry workers in limbo. By the weekend, orchards were operating at full capacity and packing plants were running smoothly, with U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors back on site to certify the fruit as pest-free before crossing the border.
While some producers welcomed the increased military presence, hoping it would curb extortion and violence, others remained cautious. Valentín Rodríguez, a longtime industry businessperson, noted that security could be temporary: “We’ll be safe for a while, we’ll see what happens next.” The extortion burden is significant—one producer told the AP he pays roughly $5,000 daily in extortion fees alone, based on a rate of 1 peso per kilo exported from nearly 90 metric tons daily.
Security fears are rooted in a complex reality. Armed groups have been known to stop farmworkers near the Jalisco border, rob trucks on western Michoacán roads, and even assault U.S. inspectors. In some cases, threats followed inspectors who detected pests, pressuring them not to report findings. The U.S. Embassy typically does not disclose details of such incidents, leaving the industry “at the mercy of whatever the U.S. market and government decide to do,” Rodríguez said.
The avocado trade between the two nations has deep historical roots. Mexico banned exports to the U.S. for eight decades after a worm was found in an avocado pit in 1914; the restriction was lifted in 1997 as domestic production could no longer meet growing demand. Today, more than 80% of Mexico’s avocados head north, with daily shipments—peaking at nearly 4,800 tons in March—critical especially ahead of Super Bowl season when guacamole demand surges.
To maintain certification and keep exports flowing, pickers like Isidro undergo training in tool disinfection, careful handling, and damage reporting. Certified orchards provide worker facilities such as dining and bathrooms. Boxes are inspected and tracked, loaded onto convoys accompanied by police patrols to deter robberies, then moved through mechanical sorting lines at packing plants before labeled trailers depart for the border. A single security alert at any point along the route can halt the entire shipment.
The deployment of over 1,500 soldiers to protect Michoacán’s avocado region and recent arrests of alleged extortionists have partially eased tensions, but risks persist. Luis Manuel Soto, a 36‑year‑old grower and packer, reported being pulled from his vehicle by armed men in 2024 and threatened with death unless he paid a bribe and dropped an extortion complaint. Since then, he has received ongoing threats by phone, been left a funeral cross with a warning he had “only days left,” and now divides his time between remote business management, occasional orchard visits, and seeking protection from prosecutors.
In communities like Santa Ana Zirosto, residents welcome the military presence as a measure of peace, yet acknowledge it brings its own anxieties. Méndez, Isidro’s supervisor, summed up the mixed feelings: “It gives us some peace, but it also scares us a little because it could lead to confrontations with some of the groups.”