California Avocado Growers Warn Cartel Influence Reaches U.S. Marketplace

California avocado farmers are being overrun by low-cost production from Mexico.

According to avocado growers, Mexican cartels are extorting growers, controlling portions of the supply chain, and using violence and intimidation to maintain that control, the Globe reported in July.

Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, President Donald Trump just put Mexican cartels on notice, telling them  that the cartels are “the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere” and “enemies at war with civilization” that use “murder, rape, torture, and extortion as instruments of terror,” calling Mexico “the epicenter of the cartel violence.”

The avocado industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, so what’s going on?

California Avocado growers explain:

As the United States reviews its trade relationship with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the California Avocado Commission is calling on Washington to put American farmers first.

California Avocado growers are asking for a seasonal tariff-rate quota on Mexican avocado imports during California’s primary harvest season, March through September. Under this approach, trade would continue, but imports above a set level during California’s peak season would face a higher tariff. This would help create a more orderly U.S. avocado market when California fruit is being harvested and sold. California growers are not asking to stop trade or for a handout. They are asking for a fair chance to compete in their own market.

The California Avocado Commission has proposed a seasonal tariff-rate quota to help protect domestic food production, support American farm families and ensure consumers can continue to find high-quality California Avocados grown closer to home.

A tariff-rate quota is a tariff system that combines import quotas and tariffs to regulate imported products and protect domestic production. TRQs are used throughout the world, often to protect domestic agriculture industries while still enabling robust trade systems, the avocado growers say.

As the avocado growers explain today, Mexican avocado exports to the United States surged 35% during the first four months of 2026. They said said the increase intensified price pressure during California’s harvest season and renewed its call for a seasonal tariff-rate quota through the ongoing United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement review.

The commission released a video in July as part of a broad advocacy campaign urging federal officials to put American farmers first by adopting a seasonal import policy for Mexican avocados during California’s  marketing season, March to September.

It’s the story you never knew about the avocado.

The video features celebrity chef and restaurant owner Andrew Gruel; Jayme Franklin, founder and CEO of The Conservateur; Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif.; and California avocado farmers Rachael Laenen of Kimball Ranches, Andy Sheaffer of Vista Punta Gorda, Robert Jackson of Jackson Ranch, John Haskett of Lucky Charm Farms, and Maureen Cottingham of CamLam Farms.

“In Mexico, cartels are extorting growers, controlling portions of the supply chain, and using violence and intimidation to maintain that control,” Jayme Franklin said in the video. “Whatever your perspective is on trade policy, protecting American agriculture and ensuring a safe, reliable food chain is necessary.”

“California farmers have raised serious concerns about the risk of crop pests entering the United States through imported avocados and about how inspection processes are carried out.”

“When you walk into a store today, you’re going to see a lot of the PLUs, which are the labels that are on the avocados, and they’re going to reflect they came from a foreign source,” said Robert Jackson of Jackson Ranch. “The interesting thing about procuring sourcing California avocados is that we are being pushed imported avocado products.”

Buy fruit and vegetables grown in California – look for the signs indicating if produce is imported or grown in the state.

And look at the PLU codes (Price Look-Up codes), the 4-or 5-digit numbers on small stickers attached to individual pieces of fresh produce, and some related items like nuts or herbs in grocery stores.

Four-digit PLU codes are some of the most common and signifies that a particular fruit or vegetable was grown conventionally rather than organically.

California Avocado Commission’s goal is to ensure that American avocado growers have a fair opportunity to compete and remain economically viable for generations to come.