Quadratín Michoacán reported growers in Peribán, Michoacán, destroyed 52 metric tonnes of avocados on Oct. 29, as pest concerns overlapped with protests over prices in a major export industry that relies heavily on U.S. buyers. The fruit, carried in several trucks, was bound for a packinghouse in Uruapan, the outlet reported.
Reuters separately reported that producers in four states destroyed up to 52 tons over the weekend. Its account does not establish whether that figure includes the loads Quadratín described in Peribán.
MiMorelia reported that producers found suspected larvae in fruit from Jalisco and Nayarit. It also identified a 26.6-tonne load from Zapotlán el Grande, Jalisco, among the fruit flagged by producers, but did not establish whether it was part of the 52-tonne total.
Michoacán Environment Minister Alejandro Mendez told Reuters on Nov. 1 that authorities had confirmed an avocado seed weevil. He said the fruit believed contaminated had not reached the market. Local reports described suspected larvae, and the public accounts cited no laboratory result identifying the insect to species.
The disposal took place amid grower protests over farm-gate prices. Quadratín reported that producers set up checkpoints to keep avocados from other states out of the region and demanded at least 40 pesos per kilogram. El País reported a demand of up to 45 pesos per kilogram.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service forecast Mexico would produce 2.80 million metric tonnes of avocados and export 1.31 million metric tonnes in 2026. The agency forecast the United States would account for almost 90% of those exports by volume. A joint U.S.-Mexico operational plan for Hass avocado exports lists five quarantine pests, including three avocado seed weevils. Reuters reported that authorities had not put a value on the discarded fruit.
