LatinNews Daily - 18 June 2024

*Mexico’s association of producers and packagers of export avocados (Apeam) has stated that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to halt new imports out of Michoacán state due to security concerns. In a statement cited widely by the local and international press, Apeam stated that it was working closely with authorities in Mexico and the US to reactivate the export of avocados from Michoacán, Mexico’s main avocado-producing state. According to the local press, the decision to halt imports was made after two US agricultural inspectors were held against their will and attacked during a protest on 14 June. In a press conference, Michoacán state governor, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, confirmed that talks were underway with US officials to restart avocado exports. In February 2022, the US similarly halted avocado imports from Michoacán for security reasons, with imports restarting a week later. The halt in avocado imports comes as Mexico’s agriculture and rural development ministry (Sader) announced that the US has lifted restriction on the import of fresh tomatoes from Mexico following four years of technical discussions with the USDA amid concerns over the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).