Reminder: Certain Mexican Hass Avocados Can Now Be Imported into All 50 States
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a reminder that certain Hass avocados from Mexico can now be imported into all 50 U.S. states.
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APHIS issued a final rule, effective January 31, 2005, allowing for the importation of Hass avocados from approved orchards and municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico to all 50 U.S. states on a year-round basis.
However, the rule called for a two-year distribution delay into the three commercial avocado-producing states of California, Florida, and Hawaii. With the end of the distribution delay on January 31, 2007, such avocados can now be distributed to these three states as of February 1, 2007.
APHIS points out that these Hass avocados from Michoacan, Mexico remain prohibited in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/17/04 and 02/12/07 news, 04121725 and 07021230 2, for BP summaries of APHIS final rule on Mexican Hass avocados and the initiation of the February 1, 2007 phase, respectively.)
APHIS press release (updated 05/21/07) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/Mexican_avocado/Mexican_avocado.shtml
BP Note
According to a Foreign Agricultural Service Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) Report, the U.S. first prohibited Mexican avocados in 1914 due to pests. The ban was partially lifted in 1997 when avocados from Michoacan were allowed into 13 northeastern states, but only from November to February. Subsequent agreements and the current final rule have gradually expanded the time period and number of states allowed to import avocados from Michoacan, Mexico.
(FAS GAIN Report (No. MX7011, dated 02/02/07) available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200702/146280110.pdf )