In 1997, the U.S. began lifting a longstanding ban against Mexican avocados after weevils, scabs and other pests entered U.S. orchards from imported products.
The U.S. suspended avocado imports from Mexico after a USDA inspector received a threat — highlighting the violence and criminal influence over the supply of the fruit.
Growing avocados is so lucrative that farmers cut down older trees and replace them with young avocado trees, draining local water supplies and leading to deforestation. In Michoacán—one of the most important ecosystems in Mexico—farmers have been removing oak and pine trees for avocado orchards at an alarming rate.
The Biden administration announced a ban last week after a US inspector was verbally threatened. The ban sparked fears of an avocado shortage and a potential increase in prices.
The suspension of avocado imports from Mexico came after a US safety inspector received a credible death threat, according to a US official with knowledge of the matter. The inspector had denied permission for a shipment from the Mexican state of Michoacán.
“Australia has [for now] limited market access for exporting avocados, largely because of the Queensland Fruit Fly affecting phytosanitary requirements of importing countries,” explains Piggott.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is resuming inspections of avocados from Mexico, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City announced Friday. The move allows the U.S. to resume imports of the popular fruit, which had been temporarily halted for nearly a week.
Because it still wouldn't be worth it for farmers, according to Kochi. “The cost of putting that stuff in a package, including the labour and the cost of packaging and the cost of transport is just not worthwhile,” he said. “So the option is just to dump it.
According to the Water Footprint Network, a single avocado requires nearly 230 litres of water to grow, compared to an orange that needs about 50 litres, or a tomato that requires 13 litres. In addition, experts say the international trade of avocadoes translates to a large carbon footprint.
But in 1994, eighty years after the ban, and against the protests of the California avocado producers, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) opened the doors for Mexico, the world's biggest producer of avocados, to import the fruit into the U.S.
Are avocados ethical? When it comes to food production, avocados may not be all that ethical, either. Some have coined the term “blood avocados," the Sustainable Food Trust explains, because USDA inspectors often face trouble from drug cartels and gangs in Michoacán, the city where most avocados in the U.S. hail from.
The online publication Insider, explaining why avocados are expensive, reported that harvesting the fruit takes a tremendous amount of water and labor and requires “costly distribution methods.”
The United States is a net importer of avocados from Mexico. Mexico supplied most of the avocados imported into the United States in 2021. In 2021 the United States imported $3 billion in fresh avocados and exported approximately $31 million in fresh avocados (ERS 2021).
The U.S. has lifted its ban on avocados imported from Mexico, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced Friday.
Why is the consumption of avocado not popular in India? Avocados are expensive than other fruits in India, as Avacado's are imported from western countries (originated in Mexico). However, demand for avocados is increasing. Of late, many organic farming startups are focusing on Avacado cultivation in India.
Avocados Saved From Extinction By Their Lifespan
Because avocados live so much longer than other fruit trees, they were able to survive until another consumer, this time hungry humans, came along.
Edamame is also the perfect substitute for avocados in terms of taste and range of use. Additionally, hummus can also be another good alternative to avocado dips. Among other equally healthy options are chia seeds, which are high in protein, rich in fibre and contain omega-3 fat.
Mexico and the U.S. are the largest avocado consumers in the world. While Mexico is also the largest producer and exporter, the U.S. mainly imports avocados from Mexico and partly exports its own avocados to neighbouring Canada.
Avocado consumption around the world.
In 2021, consumption reports by Statistica showed that, Mexico remained as the top consumer of avocados, with a per capita consumption of 8.1 Kgs.
There were, he said, a few factors at play leading to reduced levels of demand: The pandemic had led to cafes and restaurants within the major cities periodically going into lockdown. More people were choosing to eat at home. There was generally a natural dip in the numbers of avocados consumed during cooler months.
There are few places where avocados grow year-round, and one place is Mexico. To be more precise, that place is the Mexican state of Michoacán, where rich volcanic soil, abundant sunshine, and timely rainfall provide an ideal setting for the growth of creamy, tasty avocados.
The retail price range in Mexican Peso for avocados is between MXN 62.19 and MXN 79.96 per kilogram or between MXN 28.2 and MXN 36.26 per pound(lb) in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
More importantly, Reed avocados are often celebrated as the best-tasting avocado variety thanks to their rich, nutty flavor. Reed avocados are classified as type A avocados, meaning their skin remains green even when ripe.