However, no one expected the events that took place on Friday the 14th in the afternoon, which led the United States government, through its embassy in Mexico, to make the decision to withdraw the inspectors from the packing plants.

At that time, it was unknown what had happened to lead to such a radical decision. These events prompt several reflections on the future of the relationship between Mexico (SENASICA) and the United States (USDA-APHIS):

1. All the inspectors are Mexican; it is understood and respected that their employer protects them and demands that their safety be guaranteed, but in the end they know what country they live in and the security conditions that Mexico goes through.

2. The Mexican government, at both the state and federal levels, is responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone, not just the inspectors. After the incident two years ago, it was clear that it might not have been an isolated event, and there was a possibility that similar incidents would occur in the future. And indeed, the future has arrived.

3. Did the inspectors involved act correctly with the protesters they encountered? Did they follow their security protocols? Were they traveling on routes approved by their security department? Is it right for an entire industry to depend on the judgment of a single inspector who can directly activate the embassy's security protocol? We will likely remain unanswered to several of these questions.

4. We've had USDA inspectors in the avocado export program for 27 years. They themselves have stated that it's their largest and most expensive phytosanitary program in the world, but also their most successful, since they've managed to prevent the export of pests they considered a risk since 1997. Is it scientifically sound to maintain this level of inspection? Haven't the hundreds of thousands of tons exported pest-free served as evidence to relax controls? And can't the millions of fruits sampled provide evidence of the phytosanitary status of orchards certified for export? Do we need this many inspectors to maintain the program's phytosanitary success?

5. Why haven't the Mexican industry and government requested a more in-depth review of the work plan for exporting Mexican avocados to the United States?

Many readers could surely add further points for reflection. Let's hope this difficult moment is used to generate opportunities for improvement that will place the Mexican avocado industry where it belongs.

It's important to mention that fruit exports from Jalisco haven't stopped; however, fruit availability in that region is low because they are at least two weeks ahead in the seasonal transition. "Black" fruit is very scarce, and there aren't yet enough orchards with fruit that has reached the minimum dry matter content required by the industry. This should be the subject of another discussion. It seems that with these exaggerated parameters, the Mexican industry itself is causing its own market exit during the seasonal transition.

I hope to have more optimistic comments next week.

Sergio Paz Vega

Mexico

sergio.paz@coliman.com