"The situation has been resolved. After some intense talks, the militant producers have decided to end their protests. The harvests are resuming normally as of today." The parties agreed to improve the transparency of the information, so that everyone knows what the reality of the market is and what the costs and marketing margins are. According to our laws, no price was set collectively; each producer will negotiate the sale of their own fruit with the packer of their choice," says a relieved Ramón Paz, of APEAM, who was happy to share the good news.
He explains that during the entire process, APEAM has always backed its two sectors: producers and packers. It "insisted on maintaining the legal framework and seeking to re-establish the normality of our industry as soon as possible; an industry that has given us all employment and great profits over the years."
APEAM sent a statement saying that "We wish to report that today we have once again shown that we are a world class association. With our 21 years of experience and based on the work and effort of our associates, we have been able to reconcile the parts that make up this great industry."
As Ramón Paz already mentioned, the past days have been filled with intense talks that have cost many losses. The problem, in addition to having a social and economic impact, took a negative toll on the trust between all actors in the chain.
Fortunately, an agreement has been reached today that will force everyone to redouble their communication and understanding efforts. Being an exemplary, global organism entails maintaining a culture of cooperativism and associationism to better defend what we represent.
Given the damages caused and the weakening of the links of the chain, as well as the disappointment and dissatisfaction of consumers, we apologize and we will do whatever is necessary to prevent it from happening again, all within a framework of legality and sustainability, since we are a world class industry.
APEAM, A.C., agrees with and backs the agreement of understanding that the representatives of the industry have reached within the framework of the law, with producers and packers working together to reactivate the harvest and marketing of avocados.
In a meeting held by both sectors before representatives of the Government of Michoacán and Federal Authorities, and with the mayor of the city of Uruapan acting as host and witness, the following agreements have been reached in order to reactivate the harvest, transportation, packaging and shipping of Michoacan avocados to all markets and destinations, without neglecting the fruit that by law may come from other States for processing and shipping to destinations authorized by law:
1. The parties (producers and packers) express their commitment to prevent fruit from other States to arrive and be packaged and exported as fruit from the state of Michoacán, without complying with current regulations.
2. The parties agree that, as of the present date, the APEAM will provide a weekly report with information regarding the exported and domestic production, markets, volumes, producers and their destinations. The idea is to provide information on the commercial value of avocados in the world.
3. The parties declare their willingness to work together to look after the domestic and export markets, trying to maintain relations with the final marketers.
4. The parties agree that the market prices will be adjusted to the law of SUPPLY AND DEMAND. The producers will have the freedom to sell their fruit through a packer of their choice if they consider that to be beneficial to their interests.
5. The parties also say that mobilization controls will be respected. Thus, the federal and state authorities made the commitment to permanently operate the phytosanitary controls, with the support of the producing sector.
6. Lastly, it is agreed that, if the above points are not respected, both packers and producers will be sanctioned according to the Plant Health laws, the Binational Work Plan between Mexico and the United States, and any other relevant laws.