GREEN GOLD" AND MORE: AN AGRICULTURE SUCCESS STORY

UNCLAS GUADALAJARA 000077 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON MX SUBJECT: GREEN GOLD" AND MORE: AN AGRICULTURE SUCCESS STORY ¶1. Summary: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees an inspection and preclearance program that has spurred impressive growth in the export of avocados, mangoes, and citrus fruit to the United States. The value of these exports in 2008 surpassed US$850 million and continues to grow, supporting thousands of people in rural areas of many central and southern states that offer few other legal economic opportunities. The industry's success rests entirely on the integrity and professionalism of the inspection and pest treatment process, however, and a rise in the number of agricultural pests detected at US ports of entry is cause for concern. Nevertheless, in a period when a majority of economic news has been negative, the export of APHIS-inspected and treated fruit products is a resounding success story. End Summary. -------------- Avocados: From Contraband~. -------------- ¶2. In 1914 the US placed an import ban on most Mexican avocados citing concerns about the pests that would accompany the shipments and possibly affect US agriculture. That ban has been slowly lifted since 1997 when Mexican avocados were finally allowed to be imported to certain northern and central states during the winter months. During the next 10 years more states were allowed to import Mexican avocados and the import season was gradually expanded until February 1, 2007 when all 50 states could import year-round, provided the fruit was properly inspected prior to shipment. -------------- To "Green Gold" -------------- ¶3. The lifting of import restrictions on avocados has led to tremendous growth for producers in Mexico. In the 2008 export season the number of producers participating in the APHIS pre-clearance program increased 40% to 4,400 and total avocado exports were up by 73%. The value of avocados shipped during the 2008 export season amounted to over US$652 million. The vast majority of this production is in the state of Michoacan in southwest Mexico. Initial data for the 2009 season indicates that export growth will continue at record pace. -------------- Mango Millions: -------------- ¶4. Mangoes represent another APHIS export success story, and cover a much broader geographic area. In 2008 APHIS certified two additional hot water immersion facilities for the treatment and packing of mangoes prior to export, for a total of 48 installations throughout the country. In addition, for the first time fresh cut mango was exported to the US from a facility in the state of Baja California. Mangoes are brought from Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador for treatment, cutting, and packaging, and producers are excited by the potential growth of this new product in the US market. The total value of mangoes exported to the US from Mexico in 2008 was over US$215 million. -------------- Citrus Too: -------------- ¶5. In 2008, APHIS certified two new forced hot air chambers (FHA) in Mexico (bringing the total to four) for the inspection and treatment of citrus fruit prior to shipment to the US. More FHA chambers are planned and there is hope that this system will eventually replace the use of methyl bromide for fruit treatment. The pesticide methyl bromide is on the list of ozone-depleting substances in the Montreal Protocol but it is used under the Quarantine and Preshipment (QPS) exemption in the same act. During the 2008 export season more than 630,000 boxes of fruit were shipped from APHIS-supervised treatment facilities in Mexico with a value of over US$9.4 million. -------------- Profound and Positive Effects: -------------- ¶6. The recent lifting of trade restrictions on Mexican produce and increased importations by the US has had a large economic impact on rural Mexico. When the remaining barriers to avocado export were lifted in February 2007, Mexican president Felipe Calderon led a celebration in his home state of Michoacan. This state produces around 80% of Mexico's avocados and is also a leading source of documented and undocumented migrant laborers in the US. Calderon noted in the celebration that a strong avocado industry would undoubtedly contribute to slowing the migration of Mexican men and women to the US. In 2006 the US accounted for 26% of world avocado imports and Mexico represented over one-third of global production. In a state like Michoacan, increased demand from the US means increased economic opportunity for the rural population, and lessens the incentive to engage in illicit activities such as narcotrafficking. Tens of thousands of people, many in remote rural areas with no other legal means of support, now owe their livelihoods to agricultural exports enabled by APHIS inspections. -------------- -------------- Pride and Pestilence: The Twin Challenges -------------- -------------- ¶7. The historic ban on Mexican produce was based on the need to keep out potential biological threats to US agriculture. The lifting of trade restrictions was possible only with strong scientific evidence that the imports posed little realistic threat, and that reliable inspections and treatments under the auspices of APHIS would ensure that exports met phytosanitary requirements. Thus, when APHIS found a notable increase in larva (both dead and live) found at treatment plants and ports of entry during the 2008 export season, it was cause for concern. Pest control measures in the field are managed by Mexico's USDA equivalent SAGARPA and this increase could indicate that these measures have not been completely effective. In addition, SAGARPA has indicated on a number of occasions that it would like to take over the entire inspection process, claiming that it is capable of overseeing the work. While technically true, SAGARPA is vulnerable to corruption and pressure from unscrupulous growers that could endanger the export trade. Given political pressures in the US, a significant pest outbreak could prompt an outright export ban and devastate the entire industry, and the jobs that depend on it. -------------- Comment: A True Success Story: -------------- ¶8. The impressive growth of avocado, mango, and citrus exports from Mexico depends entirely on the integrity and efficiency of the APHIS preclearance program, without which these products would not be admitted into the US. At minimal cost (most APHIS expenses are paid by the Mexican producers' associations) these exports amounted to over US$900 million in 2008 and supported thousands of licit rural jobs. The Michoacan avocado association is now looking at land in neighboring states such as Jalisco to expand production. APHIS too, is exploring new opportunities, such as the inauguration of Mexico's first irradiation plant in Hidalgo state to treat guava fruit for export to the US. If profitable and sustainable, this will become yet another chapter in the agricultural success story built on the foundation of APHIS inspections. A successful agriculture industry exporting legal goods increases security and stability in Mexico and works to stem the flow of undocumented migrants across US borders. RAMOTOWSKI