Mexican avocado growers are set to ship around 110,000 metric tons of avocados to the United States ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday. This action comes after threatened U.S. tariffs were put on hold, which could have disrupted the export market.
The Mexican avocado packers’ association, known as APEAM, confirmed that this year's shipment aligns with last year's figures preceding the National Football League championship game. This suggests that the trade remained intact for this season, despite initial concerns over potential tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. delayed implementing tariffs for a month following Mexico's commitment to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Renowned for being a key ingredient in guacamole, Mexican avocados predominantly originate from Michoacan, the sole region with four avocado seasons, ensuring continuous harvest.
The proposed U.S. tariff would have a significant impact on Michoacan farmers, potentially raising prices by 10% to 20%.
Viridiana Hernandez Fernandez, a historian at the University of Iowa focusing on Mexican avocados, emphasized the vulnerability of Michoacan growers in the negotiation process. Most of these farmers operate individual or family-owned orchards, with some being Indigenous.
The steady growth in Mexico's avocado production has resulted in deforestation in recent years due to heightened demand from U.S. consumers.
In response to environmental concerns, the U.S.-based Organic Consumers Association has filed lawsuits against importers like West Pak Avocado and Fresh Del Monte Produce for potentially misleading labeling practices regarding the sustainability of Mexican avocados.
To address deforestation concerns, Michoacan's government has launched a certification initiative to discourage U.S. buyers from sourcing avocados from illegally deforested orchards since 2018.
Notably, major importers such as West Pak, Mission, and Calavo have joined the certification program, accounting for around 31% of last year's avocado exports to the U.S. In contrast, Fresh Del Monte has not participated in the program.