Mexican avocado workers resume U.S. shipments as security alert is lifted
Avocado harvesters in Michoacán returned to work after the United States lifted a security warning that had halted exports.
A United States security alert that temporarily suspended avocado exports from Michoacán was fully lifted, prompting workers like Francisco Isidro to resume harvesting the following morning. The interruption had frozen operations for thousands of laborers and paused USDA inspections, which have now resumed to certify the fruit for U.S. markets. The region, home to several cartels designated as terrorist organizations, remains fraught with violence, extortion fees and occasional truck robberies.
Some growers cite the deployment of more than 1,500 Mexican soldiers as a hopeful sign of increased safety, while others doubt the durability of that protection. Workers are once again earning daily wages, yet many fear the calm may be short-lived, highlighting the precarious nature of the cross-border avocado trade.
Why it matters
The story shows how security concerns in Mexico can disrupt a major U.S. food import and affect thousands of jobs.
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