Drug cartels in Mexico are also involved in the avocado trade, experts say, largely because there’s a lot of money to be made. Major US firms that import avocados from Mexico and sell them to chain retailers must be aware that growing these fruits is harming ecosystems, López-Portillo said.
Is it ethical to eat avocados?
When it comes to food production, avocados may not be all that ethical, either. Some have coined the term “blood avocados,” the Sustainable Food Trust explains, because USDA inspectors often face trouble from drug cartels and gangs in Michoacán, the city where most avocados in the U.S. hail from.
What is the problem with avocados from Mexico?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture banned imports of the fleshy fruit from Mexico on Feb. 11, 2022, after an employee of its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who was working in Mexico, received threats after refusing to certify a mislabeled shipment of avocados.
Are avocados from Mexico sustainable?
Avocados From Mexico has recognized that fostering natural habitat goes hand in hand with maintaining sustainable farming. A balanced ecosystem will ensure better soil and air quality, less erosion, and a healthier, stable water table.
Does buying avocados support cartels?
Avocados are wildly important in the U.S., and most are imported from Mexico. This week, the U.S. briefly banned Mexican avocados after a U.S. inspector in the state of Michoacan reported receiving threats. But avocados and limes have long been used by drug cartels to help finance their violent business plans.
Why are avocados unethical?
The demand for avocados has also resulted in significant deforestation of other countries, particularly Mexico. Mexican cartels have taken to the avocado trade, using violence to extract money from the farmers who sell the fruit.
Why should we not buy avocado?
The short answer is that avocado farming is causing deforestation, destroying ecosystems, funding drug cartels, and contributing to climate change. In Michoacán, Mexico, the biggest avocado producing region in the world, farmers are illegally razing pine forests in order to plant lucrative avocado trees.
Why is the US banning Mexican avocados?
Mexico’s avocados had been banned in the decades before the North American Free Trade Agreement from 1994, Orden said — mostly out of a concern that weevils, scabs and other pests could enter U.S. orchards from imported products.
Why is avocado banned in America?
Avocados from Mexico have been fueling America’s taste for the fruit since 1997, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted a 1914 import ban, which originally was implemented due to fears over pests like seed weevils infesting U.S. crops.
Why is the US boycotting avocados?
The United States decided late last week to temporarily block all imports of avocados from Mexico after a verbal threat was made to U.S. safety inspectors working in the country.
Are avocados worse for the environment than beef?
Whichever way you look at it, avocados are still a LOT better for the environment than animal products. An avocado on toast, a few slices in a Buddha bowl or a small bowl of guacamole produce only a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions and water used to produce the same amount of meat or cheese.
Why is growing avocados bad for the environment?
But what truly makes avocado’s production special (for the wrong reasons) is the amount of water it consumes. According to some studies, avocados are among the 3 crops causing more water stress in their region of production and UNESCO’s research shows that they have a global average water footprint of 1981 m3/ton.
Which country eats the most avocados?
Mexico, the U.S. and the Dominican Republic were the major avocado consuming countries. The countries with the highest consumption were Mexico (17%), the U.S. (16%), the Dominican Republic (10%), Indonesia (5%), Colombia (5%), Peru (4%), Brazil (3%), China (3%), Kenya (3%) and Rwanda (3%).
Should I buy avocados from Mexico?
That doesn’t mean you should stop buying avocados altogether, experts say. Avocado farming in Mexico is a lifeline for a low-income part of the country, and simply boycotting the produce would likely do more harm than good. There are ways to limit your impact on ecosystems when shopping for these fruits.
What percentage of avocados come from cartels?
Today, Mexico — specifically, the Mexican state of Michoacán, which is the only state certified by the US Department of Agriculture to sell the fruit to the United States — supplies about 80 percent of the 60 million pounds of avocados eaten north of the border each week.
Are organic avocados ethical?
Organic growers refrain from using harmful agrochemicals like pesticides or fertilisers that can have a negative impact on the environment and emit CO2. Eosta also says that their soils also contain more organic carbon, allowing them to act like a sponge and retain water.
Are California avocados ethical?
California Avocado Farming Practices Respect the Earth
They also are committed to regenerative agriculture practices, which work to restore the natural benefits Mother Nature provides, like healthy soils. California Avocado farmers do not utilize tilling, the process of turning over and breaking up the soil.
What is the problem with avocado?
One of the serious side effects of avocados is that it can damage liver health. There are certain types of avocado oil which may cause damage to your liver. Try to avoid Mexican avocado which consists of estragole and anethole. These elements have been tested for carcinogenic reactions.
Why did Biden stop avocados?
The Biden administration announced a ban last week after a US inspector was verbally threatened. The ban sparked fears of an avocado shortage and a potential increase in prices.
Where does Chipotle get their avocados?
Mexico
Last year the company served more than 43 million pounds of avocados from Mexico ; the company sources exclusively from Mexico in certain months to ensure the taste and quality of its guacamole is the absolute best. Chipotle also buys avocados from California , Chile and Peru based on peak growing seasons.
Are avocados from Mexico really from Mexico?
8 IN 10 AVOCADOS IN THE U.S. COME FROM MEXICO
In seven years, the Avocados From Mexico brand has almost doubled the volume of Mexican avocados imported to the U.S. to meet the growing demand. Today, 8 in 10 avocados in the U.S. come from Mexico.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.