America's Love of Avocados

The story of Avocados From Mexico (AFM) is one of a unique collaboration with a win-win outcome for the United States and Mexico. AFM is a non-profit marketing organization that brings together the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) and the Mexican Avocado Producers and Packers (APEAM) to promote the consumption of Mexican avocados in the U.S. This has helped fuel the United States’ love for avocado and builds a bond that benefits both countries economically – not to mention the health attributes avocados provide to consumers.

According to a recent economic analysis from Texas A&M University*, imports of Mexican Hass avocados made substantial contributions to the U.S. economy during the 2019-2020 growing season. In this timeframe, more than 2.1 billion pounds of avocados were imported into the U.S. from the Mexican state of Michoacán – fueling consumers’ love of the healthy fruit while also positively benefiting and growing U.S. national and state economies.

Comparing the results of this report to those in previous years reveals the growing importance of Mexican avocados to the U.S. economy. The contribution of avocado imports to total U.S. output increased 273% from $1.7 billion in 2012 to $6.5 billion in FY 2019/20. The report also showed that, as a result of the growing demand for avocados, domestic U.S. growers have benefited from higher price points and a larger market for their products. Avocado farming continues to be a viable and sustainable business venture in Mexico:

the Mexican avocado industry creates approximately 78,000 direct and permanent jobs and 310,000 indirect and seasonal jobs, providing a productive living in a region that was once one of the largest sources of migrant workers in the U.S.

“The numbers of the report show the expansive growth in economic benefits that avocado imports from Mexico have provided to the U.S.,” said Alvaro Luque, CEO of Avocados From Mexico. “Through our win-win partnership between the U.S. and Mexico, Avocados From Mexico has become an economic engine that supplies the growing demand for avocados in the U.S. and benefits the wholesale, retail and foodservice industries at both state and national levels. Despite the challenges this year, the avocado category has continued to grow in volume and economic value.”

The record-breaking volume year for avocado imports is driven by the skyrocketing demand for avocados: consumption of the fruit has grown over 600% between 1989/90 2019/20, an impressive 10% average annual growth rate over that period. The unique microclimate, volcanic soil and timely rainfall of Michoacán, Mexico allows avocados to be grown year-round, which is why its orchards supply nearly 82% of the avocado imports into the U.S.