The California Avocado Commission supported the government’s initial move to halt activities in Michoacán because of biosecurity and security concerns, including cartel activity in the state. “A tariff-rate quota is not a ban on Mexican avocados. The goal is to prevent extraordinary import surges from overwhelming the market while maintaining ample supply for consumers,” California Avocado Commission President, Ken Melban, told AgNavigator. He added, “If California growers are driven out of production, the U.S. becomes even more dependent on a single foreign source. Given these conditions, Helios AI moved Mexican avocado as a crop to “watch” from “all good” on Aug. 2.