Approximately 200,000 workers in the avocado industry of Michoacán returned to their jobs this week after a brief suspension of operations [1].
The return of the workforce is critical for the stability of one of Mexico's most lucrative agricultural exports. The industry faced a complete halt due to organized crime targeting the supply chain through violence and financial threats.
Operations were suspended for five days [1], though some reports suggest the pause lasted three days [1], following a wave of extortion threats and the burning of transport trucks. The violence specifically impacted the regions of Tancítaro, Uruapan, and Ario de Rosales [1].
To facilitate the resumption of work, the government deployed 1,500 military personnel to protect the orchards and transport routes [1]. The deployment aims to secure the region against the organized-crime groups that forced the temporary shutdown.
Workers returned to the fields amid a climate of instability. The burning of trucks served as a primary tactic for criminal groups to pressure producers and workers into paying extortion fees [1].
Local authorities have not provided a timeline for how long the military presence will remain in the orchards. The industry continues to operate under the shadow of these threats, relying on the 1,500 soldiers to prevent further disruptions to the harvest [1].
“Approximately 200,000 workers in the avocado industry of Michoacán returned to their jobs”
The reliance on military deployment to resume agricultural production highlights the deep penetration of organized crime into Mexico's legal economy. When basic food exports require army protection to function, it indicates that local law enforcement is unable to secure critical infrastructure, leaving the global supply chain vulnerable to the demands of extortion rackets.
