The United States seeks to monopolize all Mexican avocado production

The land of Michoacán, the world leader in avocado production, is facing a crisis due to the depletion of its resources. Agronomist Nacho Simón warns about the risk of collapse due to massive crops driven by demand from the United States. The expansion of avocado crops has transformed the Michoacan landscape, replacing forests with plantations and depleting subsoil water. This shift has been driven by U.S. demand, which has grown since Michoacán gained permission to export avocados in the late 1990s. However, this intensive farming model, which includes deforestation and monoculture, is pushing the land to its limits. Farmers have had to adapt to US regulations, which require “clean” avocados without weeds, which has led to the overuse of herbicides. Experts like Cuauhtémoc Montero warn that Michoacán is approaching the limit of its sustainable production capacity. Montero has opted for a more sustainable approach in his own garden, avoiding deforestation and promoting species ...