A week ago I mentioned in passing that the US had imposed
a ban on avocados from Mexico. The situation was/is that Mexican drug cartels have been getting into the avocado business. Cocaine, heroin, guacamole; they're so much alike! ...Actually, as
this article from The New York Times on Saturday (19 Feb 2022) points out, competition between crime syndicates is pressuring them to diversify their criminal enterprises, and avocado exports are a $3B a year industry.
Around two weeks ago a USDA inspector working in Mexico was threatened by one of these gangs. The US responded with a temporary ban. Late last week the Mexican government improved its safety measures to the satisfaction of the USDA, and the US lifted the ban. This means no more scrutinizing labels on avocados we buy at the grocery store to ensure they're conflict-free and no more worrying every time we make guacamole that we might have blood on our hands. Yay, no more
blood guac!
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