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For
nearly 30 years, Mexico has been practically the only source of
imported avocados — along with small amounts from South America
— because of concerns that plant diseases and pests could affect
U.S. growers.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said initial exports from
Guatemala could be about 1,700 tons annually. But that’s still a
drop in the bucket compared to Mexico’s annual exports of 1.4
million tons.
The U.S. Agriculture Department issued a finding that will allow
Guatemala fruit in.
“The risks of introducing or spreading plant pests or noxious
weeds from imported fresh Hass avocado fruit can be successfully
mitigated using systems approach, allowing commercial fruit
only, packinghouse and place-of-production registrations, and
additional safeguarding measures,” the department wrote.
The United States has tried to impose similar safeguards for
decades on Mexican avocados, but U.S. inspectors have sometimes
encountered violence or threats when they tried to enforce the
rules.
The embassy stressed that, while the new rules have been
published, “There are additional steps needed before avocado
exports can begin,” an apparent reference to have orchards and
packing houses registered and inspected.
The embassy said “the announcement is a big step forward for
Guatemalan Hass avocados in reaching U.S. households, something
that will mean economic prosperity for local growers.”
It said the announcement will create more jobs and greater
income, “offering better opportunities to local communities and
alternatives to irregular migration.”
While avocado growing has provided a good income for many small
landholders in Mexico, it has also caused deforestation as
residents cut down native pine forests to plant avocado groves.
And drug cartels have extorted money from growers and packing
plants in Mexico.
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