Security measures have been ramped up around avocado and lime growing areas in Michoacán, Mexico, following an escalation in criminal activity affecting agricultural supply chains. The U.S. temporarily suspended avocado inspections in Michoacán on August 5 over safety concerns, disrupting exports before inspections were later resumed under new security monitoring conditions.
This is a concrete escalation beyond what was previously reported. The suspension and restart of USDA inspection operations — combined with ongoing criminal pressure affecting lime growers alongside avocado producers — signals that the situation in Michoacán remains volatile and structurally unresolved, not a one-time incident.
Watch for ripple effects on both avocado and lime pricing as uncertainty around inspection continuity persists. Any future suspension of USDA inspections would immediately choke supply to U.S. retail and foodservice — worth monitoring closely heading into fall avocado demand season.