No Más Guac: Joe Biden Bans Avocados From México ‘Until Further Notice’
President Joe Biden ban avocados from México, “until further notice,” after a U.S. inspector was recently threatened. On the eve of the Super Bowl (Feb. 12) — the day pricey avocado ads fought for for almost a decade were set to air — Biden announced a temporary suspension of all imports of Mexican avocados.
The ban follows news of a plant inspector being threatened while in México. Reportedly, avocado exports are the latest products being caught up in drug trafficking and drug cartel turf battles, coupled with extortion of avocado growers in the western state of Michoacan — the only Mexican state fully authorized to export to the U.S.
RELATED: 9-Year-Old Boy Convinces Whole Class To Walk Out After School Pulls Chocolate Milk From Menu
The temporary ban arrives after Mexico’s Agriculture Department released a statement about the inspector being threatened. They said, “U.S. health authorities … made the decision after one of their officials, who was carrying out inspections in Uruapan, Michoacan, received a threatening message on his official cellphone.” It’s stated that this ban will greatly affect its industry, which sees an annual $3 billion in exports. The U.S. Embassy says it’s proactive in “working with the Mexican government to guarantee security conditions that would allow our personnel in Michoacan to resume operations.”