U.S. officials have suspended inspections of avocados and mangoes in Michoacán state, Mexico, after two employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture were attacked and detained.
In a statement released on Tuesday, U.S. ambassador Ken Salazar confirmed that workers from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were attacked during their avocado inspection duties. Thankfully, they have since been released from the incident.
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Without disclosing any further information on the incident, he announced the suspension of inspections until all safety concerns have been addressed.
According to The Associated Press, Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla stated on Monday that Mexican officials were in communication with their U.S. counterparts and were actively working to find a solution to the issue. Meanwhile, Salazar clarified that the temporary pause on exports did not apply to avocados and mangoes that were already in transit. Therefore, Mexican exports were not entirely blocked at the moment.
Michoacán, a major exporter of avocados and the leading producer of avocados in Mexico, has been experiencing a surge of violence. The state is grappling with the ongoing conflict between the Michoacan-based gang, the Viagras, and the Jalisco New Generation cartel. As a result, the suspension has been put in place to address the violent streak in the area.
Last week, the State Department issued a travel advisory for Michoacán at Level 4, warning Americans against traveling to the state due to the high crime rate and kidnapping concerns.
Next week, Salazar is scheduled to visit Mexico and hold a meeting with Bedolla to discuss various concerns, including the matter of security.
Salazar stated that he has been closely monitoring the situation and maintaining direct contact with officials from both the state and federal government in Mexico.
In 2019, Mexico faced a temporary ban on avocado imports by the U.S. as a result of threats made to a USDA inspector.
