MORELIA (June 12, 2024) – The governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, announced an agreement with U.S. authorities to implement a security model designed to protect agricultural health inspectors who certify avocado and mango exports to the United States. This measure comes after the certification process was suspended last week due to a security incident.

The new security model, described as permanent by Ramírez Bedolla during a conference in Morelia alongside U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar, aims to guarantee the protection of USDA-APHIS inspectors. "Since Saturday, the activity of these inspectors, essential for the agricultural export of Michoacán products, has been gradually resuming. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with the U.S. Embassy that made this agreement possible," the governor stated.

Ambassador Salazar emphasized that the meeting also addressed environmental issues and workplace safety concerns for workers involved in the production and export of avocados and mangoes. He further reported that U.S. inspectors would begin returning to packing plants in Michoacán, thus resuming exports. The Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) clarified that the incident that led to the suspension was unrelated to the avocado industry, and the Michoacán Attorney General's Office is investigating the case.

Source: agraria.pe