The Love of Avocados in America Takes a Toll on Mexico’s Forests

The avocado, once a humble fruit, has risen to stardom on American tables, becoming a symbol of health and culinary sophistication. However, behind the creamy green facade lies a troubling reality for Mexico’s forests. The voracious appetite for avocados in the United States is leaving a destructive mark on the landscapes of western Mexico.

In the mist-shrouded mountaintops of western Mexico, armed men arrived in trucks, and flames swept across once towering pine and oak forests. Following the devastation, trucks returned, transporting avocado plants that now thrive in orchards, replacing the once tree-covered landscape.

The Unveiling of Destruction: It all begins with trucks carrying armed men making their way through mist-shrouded mountaintops. Flames follow, sweeping across once-majestic forests of towering pines and oaks. Last year’s devastation paved the way for a different kind of invasion — trucks laden not with weapons, but with avocado plants, transforming the once tree-covered summits into orchards.

Maricela Baca Yépez, a lifelong resident of Patuán, describes the scale of the blaze as unprecedented. Patuán, in the volcanic plateaus where the Purépecha people have lived for centuries, now witnesses a radical transformation driven by the insatiable demand for avocados in the United States.

Fresh Del Monte, one of the largest American avocado distributors, said the industry supported reforestation projects in Mexico. But, in a statement, the company also said that “Fresh Del Monte does not own farms in Mexico,” and relied on “industry collaboration” to ensure growers abided by local laws.

The Culprit: Avocado Mania in the U.S.: While deforestation in places like the Amazon and Borneo is typically attributed to cattle ranching, gold mining, and palm oil farms, the hot spot in western Mexico tells a different story. It’s a story fueled by the love affair Americans have with avocados. The surge in consumption over the past four decades, catalyzed by marketing campaigns promoting the fruit as heart-healthy and the popularity of dishes like avocado toast, has led to a threefold increase in avocado consumption.