The humble avocado's wholesome image is being tarnished by arson, threats and killings tied to its production in Mexico's western Michoacán state. Mexico supplies about 80% of the avocados eaten in the U.S., and most come from Michoacán. The state also provides nearly a third of the global supply, so if you eat an avocado, there's a good chance it's from "one of the most violent and complex" places in Mexico, said Forbes.Â
Avocados have been consumed for thousands of years in the region, said The New York Times, but producing them "on an industrial scale" for export only began in the 1990s, when the U.S. opened its market to Mexican avocados. Internal U.S. government reports have warned that juiced avocado exports would "likely increase deforestation" in Mexico. This has proved to be correct, as a "combination of interests," including "criminal gangs, landowners, corrupt local officials and community leaders," started clearing forests for avocado orchards, the Times added.
In recent years, avocado production has led to greater criminality. Five years ago, 19 people were found "hanging from an overpass, piled beneath a pedestrian bridge or dumped on the roadside" in "various states of undress and dismemberment," said The Guardian. Experts pointed to cartel clashes over the multibillion-dollar trade. This type of brutality has led one Michelin-starred chef to describe avocados as the "blood diamonds" of Mexico.Â
And there's no end in sight for these problems because, amid all the violence, the avocado trade is expected to continue booming. A study last year predicted that the amount of land in Michoacán used for avocado crops could increase by more than 80% by 2050. |