Mexico sends 1,500 troops as US halts Michoacan avocado checks
Why it matters: Mexico supplies more than 80% of avocados eaten in the US, so a prolonged pause could lift prices and disrupt shipments.
Mexico deployed 1,500 additional troops to Michoacan after the United States suspended government operations there, including the inspections required for avocado exports. The shutdown followed what US authorities described as a non-specific threat to US interests in the western Mexican state.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said the added security was meant to speed the return of exports and limit damage to Mexico's economy and US supply. USDA inspectors must clear avocados on site before they can enter the United States, and imports stop when inspections are paused.
Michoacan is Mexico's main avocado-producing state and has long faced cartel violence and extortion. A similar pause in 2022 lasted about a week.