IRVINE, CA - The California Avocado Commission (CAC) has called on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain direct oversight over the Mexico avocado export program, emphasizing that the continuation of the current U.S./Mexico Operational Work Plan (OWP) is essential.

“As reports of corruption and violence in Mexico continue, including regions authorized for avocado exports to the U.S., it’s unimaginable the U.S. government would consider abdicating inspection responsibilities to Mexico,” said Commission Vice President of Industry Affairs and Operations Ken Melban. “U.S. farmers will not be protected under such a program, one intended and designed specifically to protect U.S. farmers’ economic interests.”

As the organization stated in a recent release, the OWP requires the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to provide direct inspection of all harvesting and packing of Hass avocados for export to the U.S. CAC noted that maintaining the USDA’s direct oversight ensures the integrity of the avocado inspection program in Mexico and is critical to preventing the introduction of invasive pests to the U.S.

The organization emphasized the importance of preventing invasive pests by utilizing the agreed-upon and necessary levels of oversight found in the OWP.

“The Commission calls on USDA to uphold their mission and retain control of the Mexico avocado inspections as agreed upon under the current OWP,” Melban added.

The California Avocado Commission represents the roughly 3,000 avocado growers who produce avocados on more than 50,000 acres in the state, with an annual average farm-gate value of $367,000,000.

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