Morelia, Michoacán.- The Association of Producers and Packers, Exporters of Avocado of Mexico (APEAM) issued a statement addressed to public opinion, informing that since last Friday protocols and security were activated to safeguard the physical integrity of the officials and facilities of the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA).
“Due to violations of the Work Plan within the export program and before the harvest and shipments of avocado to the United States of North Americayesterday, Friday, February 11, the shielding protocols were activated to safeguard the physical integrity of the officers and facilities of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “
As Debate reported, In Michoacán, avocado orchard and packaging workers that export to the United States were alerted about the suspension of work and the cancellation of shipments to the neighboring country to the north, prior to the start of the Super Bowl.
A few hours after starting the event with the highest consumption of avocado in the United States, exporting companies of the fruit stopped their work, without the reason being explained so far.
In this regard, some versions have been circulated, among them, a situation of insecurity against the personnel of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reason for the temporary closure of the avocado industry in Michoacán.
Another version refers to the fact that avocado from the state of Puebla, which does not have licenses for its sale in the United States, was found in a certified Michoacán packaging for export.
The above would have been reported by USDA engineers to their superiors in the USA, who would have ordered a stop to purchases of Mexican avocado.
It is also noted that as a result of the report issued by the USDA representatives, they were threatened, for which they withdrew from Michoacán, considering that there are no security guarantees to carry out their work.
In the document issued by the APEAM, the actors involved in the value chain are urged to exercise extreme vigilance to preserve the export program.
For his part, the The Government of Michoacán issued a statement expressing its confidence that avocado shipments from Michoacán to the neighboring country will be resumed shortly and in this way, this important engine of the state economy will be reactivated.
He recalled that Michoacán contributes 86.7 billion pesos of the value of national agricultural production, which is 630.9 billion pesos, which represents 13.7 percent of the total.
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With a production value of 39.6 billion pesos in the primary sector of Michoacán, the most outstanding product is the avocado, which is marketed mainly to the United States, but also to Europe and Asia.
Therefore, he called for producers preserve and guarantee the quality of the avocado from Michoacan throughout its production and export chain.
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