Why Are Avocados Not Allowed In The Us?

PineVoyager Updated: 2025-08-29

Avocados are a daily staple for many Americans. They can be found in salads, sandwiches and even on toast for brunch. However, the fruit is becoming a common tool of drug cartels and criminals.
Avocado imports from the Mexican state of Michoacan were temporarily halted by U.S. officials after a Mexican source received a death threat. Now that the threat has passed, exports are expected to resume soon.

1. Security

The United States is Mexico's largest market, and avocados are a major business there. But because of a threat an inspector received on his phone last week, U.S. authorities stopped inspecting shipments from the Mexican state of Michoacan.
USDA inspectors check imported avocados to make sure they are safe and free of diseases that could harm American crops. Each avocado is checked for a BICO sticker and to ensure the fruit is properly labeled and packaged for shipment.
KAHN: But drug cartels are engaged in a deadly turf war involving farmers and packers in Michoacan. They claim they are the target of kidnappings, murders and other violence, and that gangs extort them by demanding thousands of dollars per acre in protection money.
A meeting was held this week between Mexican agricultural authorities and USDA officials to talk about improving safety for USDA employees in Michoacan. According to APEAM, inspections are expected to resume shortly.

2. Impact on the environment

Since avocados are a highly valuable crop, large areas of land are used exclusively to grow this fruit. Such monocultures ultimately deplete the nutrients in the soil and can even lead to the demise of local ecosystems.
Due to their popularity, avocados are also grown in regions with unsuitable climates. This behavior could exacerbate the ongoing global food crisis and lead to overconsumption of resources that need to be recycled and regenerated.
In addition, due to the popularity of the avocado, Michoacan's criminal gangs are now able to claim a portion of the producers' revenues. In order to stop avocado shipments, the gangs are known to threaten U.S. health inspectors. Trucks transporting avocados have also been robbed by the gangs. Avocados destined for the U.S. are either thrown away or sold for less money if they fail inspection.

3. Medical problems

Because of their high content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, avocados can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition, the potassium they contain can lower blood pressure. In addition, the presence of folate and vitamin B6 can help lower homocysteine levels, which are linked to a higher risk of heart disease.
Still, U.S. avocado farmers are voicing concern that cheaper Mexican avocados could increase illegal shipments to California and bring with them pests such as fruit flies and seed beetles that could damage their own crops. They argue that the USDA should focus its resources on protecting U.S. inspectors in Mexico, where territorial wars between drug cartels have led to threats against them.
Avocado shipments were halted last week after a U.S. inspector in Michoacan and his family were threatened. If the USDA is satisfied that the safety of its inspectors can be guaranteed, it will bring the program back.

4th prize

Although avocados are a popular snack, they can be expensive. They cost $1 or less at a typical U.S. grocery store, but are highly sought after because of their popularity. When fewer avocados are available in the U.S., the price of an avocado can also rise.
Avocado prices rose sharply in February after a brief ban on imports from the western Mexican state of Michoacan, where drug cartels have killed growers in territorial wars. A threat against an American agricultural inspector prompted the hiatus. The USDA says it is working on enhanced safety preparations for Mexican avocado inspectors.
Because additional shipments will be possible from countries such as Peru and Colombia, the price of avocados in the U.S. could drop when inspections resume. While these other countries do not produce as many avocados as Michoacan, they still supply enough to meet U.S. demand.