“This is possible thanks to the rapid response and cooperation of the Governor of Michoacán, the Mexican federal government, and the Association of Exporting Producers and Packers of Avocados from Mexico (APEAM). I thank them for working with my security colleagues at the Embassy of the US to establish the measures that guarantee the safety of our APHIS inspectors in the field”, declared the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar.
The ambassador extended his thanks to the farmers and ranchers of both countries, whom he referred to as “the backbone of the largest bilateral agricultural and food trade relationship in the world.”
“From @Agricultura_mex We express our satisfaction with the announcement of the immediate resumption of inspections of avocados from #Michoacan which allows them to enter the #UnitedStates,” the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Víctor Villalobos, wrote on his Twitter account.
Following coordinated work between APHIS-USDA, Mexican authorities, the government of Michoacán, and APEAM, additional measures were enacted to improve the safety of US government field inspectors, following a threat to an employee on February 11, reported the US service on its website.
Last year, the United States imported $3 billion worth of avocados from around the world, of which $2.8 billion was bought from Mexico. Only the state of Michoacán is certified to sell Mexican green gold to its neighbor to the north, according to USDA figures.
The United States Department of Agriculture appreciated the collaboration between the United States and Mexico, which “made it possible to resolve this problem in a timely manner,” the APHIS document reads.
“Mexico and the United States will continue to work together to strengthen the strong bilateral supply chains that promote economic growth and prosperity in both countries,” Salazar said.
