Mexico deploys over 1,500 troops to avocado region after US suspends inspections

Mexico has dispatched more than 1,500 soldiers to Michoacán, the nation’s leading avocado‑producing state, after the United States halted routine export inspections of Mexican avocados. The move, announced by the Mexican federal government on Tuesday, aims to secure the supply chain and reassure U.S. authorities that the fruit meets phytosanitary standards following the suspension, which was triggered by concerns over potential pest contamination.

The deployment will see troops assisting customs officials and agricultural inspectors at key transit points, enhancing surveillance of shipments bound for the United States, which accounts for the bulk of Mexico’s avocado market. Officials said the reinforcement is temporary and will remain in place until the U.S. resumes its inspection program, a step they hope will restore confidence and prevent disruptions to the multi‑billion‑dollar industry.