Small avocado growers in Mexico's Michoacán state have halted harvesting and blocked inspections, cutting nearly half of scheduled shipments to the United States, as they demand a substantial increase in the price they receive from packing houses and exporters.
The Union of Small Producers of Michoacán (PUAM) called the strike this week, demanding a price of up to 45 pesos ($2.40) per kilogram, compared with the roughly 13 pesos ($0.70) they currently receive. Producers argue that living conditions for farm workers have deteriorated and that most of the gains from the avocado trade flow to intermediaries.
“We are the ones who face pests, droughts, rising fertilizer costs, labor and all the risks of production,” PUAM said in a statement. “And while our avocados continue to sell at high prices abroad, here the producer has to accept what they are offered.”
Producers have set up roadblocks and peaceful occupations at several Local Plant Health Boards (JLSV), which are responsible for the phytosanitary inspections required for exports. As of Tuesday, growers and buyers had yet to reach an agreement. Demands also include higher wages for avocado pickers and implementation of VELAGRO, a labor verification mechanism for agricultural exports.
Valentín Rodríguez, a Michoacán grower and manager of packing company Avocados Don Goyo, said that of the 1,100 containers originally scheduled to be shipped to the U.S. border this week, only about 600 are expected to make the journey after two consecutive days without harvesting. “Meanwhile, price is, sadly, not something that can be controlled by pressure tactics, by blocking roads or takeovers of plant health boards. It responds to different supply-and-demand dynamics. The industry is also sending the wrong signal to consumers and major importers in the United States: if Mexico does not supply the avocados the U.S. consumes, then Ecuador, Colombia or Peru will.”
The United States buys about $3.65 billion worth of avocados a year. For growers in Michoacán, the U.S. accounts for 99% of their market. The Association of Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers of Mexico (APEAM) said it is open to hearing proposals from growers, farmworkers and pickers.
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla argued the industry should diversify its markets. “It is impossible for the government to set a price for avocados,” he told reporters. “Producers are demanding that APEAM improve the price. I think APEAM has for years failed to explore new markets and urgently must seek new markets [...] We are not alone; there is global competition. The Chinese market, for example, is already much larger than the North American market and they import from Kenya and South Africa.”
Mexico is the world's leading avocado producer, and Mexican Hass avocados account for nearly 30% of global output. In August 2026, avocado exports were briefly suspended after a security alert due to violence prompted USDA inspectors to leave their posts in Michoacán.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Disruption to avocado exports from Michoacán could raise prices for U.S. consumers and the guacamole industry, as Mexico supplies most of America's avocados.
- The strike highlights long-standing tensions between small growers and the export industry over profit distribution, with implications for labor conditions and informal employment.
- The outcome may influence market dynamics: if Mexico cannot reliably supply, competitors like Ecuador, Colombia and Peru could gain ground.
Background
Michoacán is Mexico's top avocado producing state, responsible for the vast majority of exports to the United States. The industry is deeply integrated: the U.S. buys about $3.65 billion worth of avocados annually, and for Michoacán growers, the American market represents 99% of sales. Small growers have long complained that they receive a fraction of the final price, while packing houses and exporters capture the bulk of profits. A new labor verification mechanism, VELAGRO, took effect on October 1, placing responsibility on exporters to ensure supply chain compliance with labor laws, which could become a barrier for informal producers. In August 2026, exports were briefly halted after a security alert related to drug violence forced USDA inspectors to leave.
Key Perspectives
Union of Small Producers of Michoacán (PUAM): Demands a price of up to 45 pesos ($2.40) per kilogram, arguing that growers bear all the risks of production while seeing little of the profits from exports.
Valentín Rodríguez (grower and packing company manager): Warns that blocking roads and inspections cannot control prices, which respond to supply and demand, and that the strike sends a wrong signal, potentially pushing U.S. importers toward alternative suppliers like Ecuador, Colombia or Peru.
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla: Says the government cannot set avocado prices and argues that APEAM has failed to explore new markets, pointing to competition from Kenya and South Africa in the Chinese market.
Association of Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers of Mexico (APEAM): Expressed openness to hearing proposals from growers, farmworkers and pickers.
What to Watch
- Whether growers and buyers reach a negotiated price agreement or the strike continues, further reducing shipments.
- The response of U.S. importers and the USDA: any prolonged disruption could lead to increased inspections or trade diversification.
- Implementation of VELAGRO and its impact on small growers who operate informally; this could become a flashpoint in future negotiations.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA strike by small avocado growers in Mexico has cut exports to the United States.El País English: “Small avocado growers’ strike cuts Mexican exports to the United States.”
- Partly supportedNearly half of scheduled shipments were halted.El País English: “a move that has already affected nearly half of shipments to their main buyer, the United States.”
- Partly supportedGrowers halted harvesting in Michoacán.El País English: “Avocado harvesting has come to a halt in parts of Michoacán”
- Not in the sourcesGrowers blocked phytosanitary inspections.El País English: “Producers have set up roadblocks and peaceful occupations at several Local Plant Health Boards (JLSV), which are responsible for the phytosanitary inspections required for exports.”
- SupportedPUAM demanded up to 45 pesos ($2.40) per kilogram, compared with the roughly 13 pesos ($0.70) growers currently receive.El País English: “demanding a price of up to 45 pesos ($2.40) per kilogram, compared with the roughly 13 pesos ($0.70) they currently receive.”
- SupportedPUAM said growers face pests, droughts, rising fertilizer costs and production risks, while producers must accept the prices offered despite high prices abroad.El País English: ““We are the ones who face pests, droughts, rising fertilizer costs, labor and all the risks of production,” PUAM said in a statement. “And while our avocados continue to sell at high prices abroad, here the producer has to accept what they are offered.””
- SupportedValentín Rodríguez said price cannot be controlled by pressure tactics and that U.S. buyers could turn to Ecuador, Colombia or Peru if Mexico does not supply them.El País English: ““Meanwhile, price is, sadly, not something that can be controlled by pressure tactics, by blocking roads or takeovers of plant health boards. It responds to different supply-and-demand dynamics.”
- SupportedRodríguez said about 600 of 1,100 containers scheduled for the U.S. border were expected to make the journey after two consecutive days without harvesting.El País English: “of the 1,100 containers originally scheduled to be shipped to the U.S. border this week, only about 600 are now expected to make the journey after two consecutive days without harvesting.”
- SupportedAs of Tuesday, growers and buyers had not reached an agreement.El País English: “As of Tuesday afternoon, growers and buyers had yet to reach an agreement”
- SupportedGrowers’ demands included higher wages for avocado pickers and implementation of VELAGRO.El País English: “The demands also include the implementation of VELAGRO (Labor Verification for Agricultural Exports)”
- SupportedGovernor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said the government cannot set avocado prices and urged APEAM to seek new markets.El País English: ““It is impossible for the government to set a price for avocados,” he told reporters. “Producers are demanding that APEAM improve the price. I think APEAM has for years failed to explore new markets and urgently must seek new markets [...]””
- SupportedIn August 2026, avocado exports were briefly suspended after a security alert prompted USDA inspectors to leave their posts in Michoacán.El País English: “In August 2026, avocado exports were briefly suspended for three days after a security alert issued by Washington in response to a surge in violence linked to drug-trafficking organizations prompted on-site USDA inspectors to leave their posts in Michoacán”
