Avocado growers from Jalisco, who have been unable to export their fruit to the United States due to a lack of Free Zone certification, expect they will be able to do so by midyear.
The Government of Jalisco reported that they would accelerate the Avocado Product System's certification process this year.
The Ministry of Rural Development said it had earmarked support for producers via the Avocado Plant Health Management campaign, in an area of 2,637 hectares, which would allow them to obtain a Free Zone certification.
Currently, Jalisco exports avocado to Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Spain and Germany.
Ignacio Gonzalez, a producer of avocado from Ciudad Guzman, said the opening of the U.S. market would be a major achievement.
"Since the United States is closer, all shipments would be there in three or four days, and that means our fruits will have a longer shelf life," he said.
Another advantage of the U.S. market, he added, is that the producers could sell their product throughout the whole year.
"We also export to Canada almost throughout year, but the shipments to Japan lasts fourteen days and we only have a seven or eight month window. Shipments to Europe last twenty-one days and we only have a four to five month window," he said.
There are currently twenty municipalities producing avocado in Jalisco. Hector Padilla, head of the Ministry of Rural Development, said that currently the municipalities of Zapotlán El Grande, Gómez Farías and Sayula, Mazamitla, La Manzanilla de la Paz, Concepción de Buenos Aires, Zapotiltic and Tapalpa are pest free.
"In a way, these municipalities are the first to be ready to export," he said.
He also added that they were in the process of signing an agreement that would allow producers to export their product to the United States as Certificated Orchards.
Source: am