Hector Padilla Gutierrez, the head of the Ministry of Rural Development (Seder), stated that there were 120 tons of avocados from Jalisco stranded in Tamaulipas and unable to enter the United States because the work plan required to cross the border hasn't been signed.
On Monday, after 83 years of waiting, five truckloads of the Grupo Roquín, Avo Select, Mevi Aguacates Selectos, and Grupo Cerritos companies departed from Ciudad Guzman to the US, after authorities from that country green-lighted the entry of avocados from Jalisco.
However, according to the Seder, the avocado from Jalisco could not cross the border with Texas because their work plan wasn't signed. Currently, the avocados are stocked in Reynosa.
"An event to celebrate the formal admission of the avocado from Jalisco into the United States had been scheduled for this Wednesday at the Reynosa-McAllen bridge. The work plan was going to be signed there, as part of the event's protocol," said Padilla Gutierrez.
"The problem was that the transporters moved very fast and arrived at the border yesterday morning, and we had estimated that they would arrive in the afternoon. They wanted to enter the US, but were unable because they lacked this document."
The state official said that all the parties involved in this export already knew about the event and there had been a coordination problem. He said that, as a result of this impasse, the signing of the document had been suspended.
"I have been in contact with the producers and I met with the head of Senasica once I learned of this problem. Today, Dr. Javier Trujillo, an official from Plant Health responsible for the negotiations of this product, was sent to Reynosa to solve the issue," he said.
"We hope this matter is resolved very soon and that the avocado from Jalisco enters the United States."
This isn't the first time that there has been a delay in exports of avocados from Jalisco. The United States authorized the entry of this product in May 2016, but producers were unable to make their first shipments that year because of changes in the regulations. "We are aware that this is a very sensitive time between Mexico and the United States and we know we must be careful. We should handle things firmly, but also with great respect," he said.
Source: informador.com.mx