U.S. stops Mexican avocado imports after inspector threatened

U.S. decision came after an inspector in Michoacán received a threat to his official cell phone.
Avocados
By Madeleine Hubbard

The U.S. government has suspended the import of all avocados from Mexico after a U.S. plant safety inspector was threatened. 

The suspension was announced by Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Saturday evening, one day prior to the Super Bowl, which is the year’s biggest sales opportunity. 

"The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS-USDA) decided until further notice to pause avocado inspection activities in Michoacán," the Mexican Agriculture Ministry stated.

The ministry stated the U.S. decision came after an inspector in Michoacán received a threat to his official cell phone.

For nearly a decade Avocados from Mexico has taken out Super Bowl ads in an effort to make guacamole a gameday tradition, The Associated Press reports.

Avocados From Mexico took out an ad for the Super Bowl featuring Andy Richter.

The outlet calls avocado exports "the latest victim of the drug cartel turf battles," as growers face extortion threats. 

Mexican avocados make almost $3 billion in annual exports, according to AP News.