Jalisco avacados stuck at the border - exporters seeking new markets

Avocados from Jalisco that could not enter the United States because of problems over a work plan, c…

Avocados from Jalisco that could not enter the United States because of problems over a work plan, could be sold in Mexico or Canada, said Ignacio Gomez, the leader of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Avocados from Jalisco.

After 83 years of closed borders, 120 tons of avocados departed Ciudad Guzman for the US on Monday. However, due to a missing signature on a document, the container trucks were unable to enter the United States. Currently, they are in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, waiting for a solution.

Hector Padilla, the head of the Ministry of Rural Development (Seder), said on Wednesday night that the document would be signed in a few hours, but this has not happened.

"We're going to send them to another destination. We might sell them in Mexico or to Canada, which is a strong destination for Jalisco's exports."

According to Gomez, even though the agricultural authorities had said the work plan would be signed on Wednesday morning at a formal event, producers thought the plan had already been signed and, therefore, sent the cargo to the US.

"That information has changed. That's why we are making this decision. Since the work plan isn't signed, we will redirect shipments and wait for them to tell us when they have signed that document."

Gomez said they were waiting for the National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASA) to inform them that the matter was solved to resume exports to the United States.