Cancel OK

Guatemala awaits approval to export Hass avocados to the U.S.

avocado glamor shot

Guatemala is awaiting the result of the Pest Risk Analysis process in the production of Hass avocados, which if positive, would open a significant door for export to U.S., according to Perspectiva, citing Guatamala’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA).

Headshot of Marco Campos, Produce Blue Book's media coordinator for Latin America.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA (APHIS) is in the phase of receiving comments from any person, producer or country, in which the MAGA indicates that it has followed up on the process and is waiting to integrate an operational working plan for periodic monitoring with producers.

The MAGA, through the Plant Health Directorate of the Vice Ministry of Agricultural Health and Regulations (VISAR), is responsible for the registration and inspection of crops, granting phytosanitary certification to producers who meet the indicated requirements.

This certification is crucial to ensure that the product meets international standards and can be exported.

The export of Hass avocado to the U.S. would not only generate new economic opportunities for Guatemala, but would also strengthen the agricultural sector, benefiting local producers with broader access to international markets.

In that sense, MAGA continues to work hard to ensure that Guatemala meets all the necessary requirements for the export of Hass avocado, demonstrating its commitment to the country’s agricultural development.

A publication published in April by the Diario de Centro América indicates that Guatemalan producers plan to export at least 15,500 tons of Hass avocado to the U.S. by 2030, given the growing demand for this fruit in the country, according to projections from the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport).

Twitter

Marco Campos is Media Coordinator, Latin America for Blue Book Services