Mexico’s Avocado Dominance

Imagine dawn breaking over the emerald-green orchards of Michoacán, a state in western Mexico. The morning mist lifts to reveal countless avocado trees laden with the rich, dark-green fruits that have taken the world by storm. Once a local staple known to indigenous peoples for millennia, the avocado has become a global obsession – and Michoacán is at the very center of this “green gold” boom. Today, Mexico accounts for over a third of the world’s avocado production, and Michoacán alone contributes nearly 80% of the country’s output. In many ways, this one Mexican state has become the beating heart of the global avocado market, transforming lives at home and delighting taste buds abroad.

From Local Delicacy to Global Phenomenon: The Rise of Michoacán’s Avocado Empire

For centuries, avocados (or ahuacates in Spanish, from the Aztec ahuácatl) have been cultivated in Mexico, but they remained a relatively local delicacy. Michoacán’s farmers have long tended avocado trees – in fact, some of the first commercial avocado orchards were established here in the 1960s. Back then, avocados were primarily consumed domestically, and the idea of Michoacán feeding a worldwide appetite was far-fetched. All that changed in the 1990s, when a convergence of events set the stage for Michoacán’s avocado ascendancy.

A pivotal moment came in 1997, when the United States lifted a decades-long ban on Mexican avocados that had been in place since 1914 (originally imposed over pest concerns). This opened the floodgates for Michoacán’s growers. At the same time, global and especially American demand for avocados began to skyrocket. In the early 2000s, Americans on average ate only about 2 pounds of avocados per year – but by 2018 they were devouring nearly 8 pounds per person. The rise of avocado toast, guacamole’s ubiquity at parties (especially during the Super Bowl), and growing awareness of avocados’ health benefits all fueled an avocado craze. With California’s production limited and seasonal, Mexico – and Michoacán in particular – was perfectly positioned to satisfy this new hunger.

Michoacán’s dominance was cemented by smart trade positioning. For many years, it was the only Mexican state certified to export avocados to the U.S., giving it a near-monopoly on the lucrative American market. Even as other Mexican states like Jalisco have recently begun exporting, Michoacán remains by far the largest producer, thanks to its early start and natural advantages. The numbers tell the story of this meteoric rise: in the early 2000s, Mexico was producing around a million metric tons of avocados per year; by 2023 it was nearly 3 million tons, a figure that has more than doubled in two decades. Much of that growth has come from Michoacán’s orchards. Today, this single state churns out over 2 million tons annually, supplying consumers from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

One vivid illustration of Michoacán’s global role is the American Super Bowl weekend. It’s the year’s biggest event for avocado consumption in the U.S., with well over 100 million pounds of guacamole-bound avocados consumed in that single weekend. And four-fifths of those avocados come straight from Michoacán’s soil, arriving by truckloads from Mexico. In fact, nearly 90% of all avocados imported into the United States in 2024 were supplied by Mexico, most of them grown in Michoacán’s fertile orchards. From a local cash crop, Michoacán’s avocados have truly become a global phenomenon in just a few short decades.

Economic Significance: “Green Gold” and a Booming Industry

The avocado boom has reverberated powerfully through Mexico’s economy – especially in Michoacán. What was once a modest agricultural sector has transformed into a multi-billion-dollar industry often dubbed “green gold” for the profits it yields. Avocado farming has become an economic lifeline for the region, lifting incomes and creating jobs in places where opportunities were once scarce. Today, the avocado is one of Mexico’s top agricultural exports, ranking in the top three alongside beer and tequila. Export revenues have surged year after year – Mexico’s avocado exports were valued at nearly $3 billion in 2021, and by 2024 they reached about $3.8 billion in value as global demand continued to climb.

Much of this revenue flows back to Michoacán. The state’s orchards and packing houses provide employment on a massive scale – the industry supports an estimated 78,000 direct, permanent jobs in Michoacán and over 300,000 indirect or seasonal jobs across Mexico. From farm laborers, pickers, and truck drivers to technicians in packing facilities and export logistics specialists, a huge workforce now depends on “green gold.” The economic ripple effects are profound. Growers who once sold avocados cheaply on local markets now earn many times more exporting abroad, pumping money into rural communities. According to one Michoacán producer, “Twenty-five years ago, the price for 1 kilo of avocados was 15 cents. Now it is $1.50 to $2. This has grown our community life in a way that can’t be quantified,” he said, referring to better incomes for families and more local investment.

Perhaps one of the most striking impacts has been on migration and livelihoods. Michoacán used to be among the top three states sending migrant workers to the U.S., as people left in search of jobs. But thanks to the avocado boom, many locals no longer feel compelled to leave. “People have opportunities now in the avocado industry. They don’t migrate for work… It is noticeable in our community, and in our quality of life,” recounts the same producer. The avocado industry’s growth has drastically reduced out-migration from Michoacán, as confirmed by Mexico’s Avocado Institute. With higher incomes, farmers are investing in their towns – improving schools, funding community projects, and providing stable employment for the next generation. In short, the rise of avocados has infused billions into Mexico’s economy and transformed Michoacán’s social landscape, turning what was once a poor rural region into a more prosperous, self-sustaining community.

It’s not just Mexico that benefits economically – the global avocado trade is booming, and Mexico is at its center. In the United States alone, imports of Mexican avocados have been shown to generate billions of dollars of economic activity (think of all the trucking, distribution, grocery sales, and restaurant guacamole orders). In 2022, for example, imports of Mexican avocados added over $6 billion to U.S. GDP and supported more than 42,000 jobs in the U.S. economy. Every creamy fruit that journeys northward sets off a chain of economic activity – truly underlining how Michoacán’s orchards are deeply entwined with livelihoods far beyond Mexico’s borders.

Nature’s Perfect Orchard: Why Michoacán Is Uniquely Suited to Avocado Farming

Why Michoacán? How is it that this one region can produce such staggering quantities of avocados, year in and year out, eclipsing entire countries? The answer lies in Michoacán’s extraordinary natural advantages – a combination of climate, geography, and horticultural heritage that gives it an edge virtually unmatched anywhere on Earth.

• Ideal Climate: Michoacán’s avocado belt enjoys a warm, sub-humid climate with temperatures generally ranging from ~20°C to 25°C (68–77°F) year-round This mild, spring-like climate is perfect for avocado trees, which do not tolerate hard freezes. Unlike more temperate regions that have a single avocado season, Michoacán’s steady temperatures allow for continuous growth and multiple blooms. The region also receives ample rainfall (around 163 cm or 64 inches annually), ensuring abundant natural irrigation. Even during drier periods, growers have increasingly adopted drip irrigation to supplement rainfall and maintain ideal moisture for the orchards.

• Rich Volcanic Soil: The state lies along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and its soil is famously rich, well-draining, and fertile. Generations of volcanic activity endowed Michoacán’s hills with mineral-rich earth that avocado trees love. The soil’s excellent drainage means avocado roots don’t get waterlogged – a critical factor for a tree that likes moisture without soggy roots. Locals often say you can taste the difference: the Hass avocados here grow buttery and flavorful, thanks in part to the land they’re rooted in.

• High Elevation & Unique Topography: If you travel through Michoacán’s countryside, you’ll notice avocado orchards blanketing the slopes of mountains and hills. These orchards are situated at elevations between roughly 1,200 and 2,300 meters (3,900–7,500 ft) above sea level. Such heights might seem surprising for a tropical fruit, but it’s a perfect sweet spot. The elevation means cooler nights and a climate that induces multiple flowering seasons. In fact, Michoacán’s growers benefit from four overlapping bloom seasons on their avocado trees. Essentially, different trees (or even the same tree) can flower and fruit at different times of the year, enabling year-round harvests. This is extremely rare – most avocado-growing regions have a defined harvest season. In Michoacán, there’s always a grove ready to be picked, which is pure gold for keeping a steady supply to world markets.

• Hass Variety and Horticultural Expertise: Michoacán predominantly grows the Hass avocado, the small, dark, pebbly-skinned variety that commands about 80% of the world market. The Hass is prized for its creamy texture, rich taste, and excellent post-harvest durability, and it thrives in Michoacán’s conditions. Over decades, local farmers and agronomists have perfected techniques for grafting and caring for Hass trees. Virtually all avocados exported from Michoacán are Hass, and their quality has helped solidify Mexico’s reputation as the go-to source for top-tier avocados. The farmers here, often working land passed down for generations, carry a wealth of knowledge about nurturing these trees. They carefully manage shade, soil health, and pruning to keep trees productive for many years. This combination of ideal variety and skilled cultivation means Michoacán not only grows a lot of avocados, but very high-quality ones that international consumers demand.

In short, Mother Nature bestowed Michoacán with a near-perfect avocado-growing environment – one of the few places on Earth where avocados can literally be harvested in every season. This natural bounty, coupled with the know-how of local growers, created the foundation for Michoacán’s dominance long before global demand surged. When the world came calling for more avocados, Michoacán was ready and able to answer that call like nowhere else.

By the Numbers: Production and Exports on a Global Scale

To truly appreciate Michoacán’s dominance, it helps to see how Mexico compares to other avocado-producing countries. The table below highlights the top avocado producers worldwide and underscores Mexico’s leading role:

Source: FAO (2023 data).

As shown above, Mexico is by far the world’s largest avocado producer, contributing roughly 28–30% of the global supply. That is nearly as much as the next four countries combined. The numbers become even more impressive when you zoom in further: since Michoacán grows about 75–80% of Mexico’s avocados, this single state alone produces roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of all the avocados on the planet. It’s an astounding figure – one region, about the size of West Virginia, feeding a huge chunk of the world’s guacamole, avocado toast, and sushi rolls.

Mexico’s primacy isn’t just in growing the fruit, but in exporting it globally. Mexican avocados are shipped to dozens of countries, with the United States by far the biggest customer. In 2024, Mexico’s avocado production was about 2.67–2.75 million metric tons, and nearly half of that was exported abroad. The U.S. alone received over 1 million tons of Mexican avocados that year. To put it another way, Mexico supplied about 88% of all avocados imported by the U.S. in 2024 – virtually dominating supermarket shelves and restaurant kitchens across America. Canada, Japan, and Europe are other key export markets, though on a smaller scale (for example, Canada accounted for about 7% of Mexico’s exports, and Japan 3% in recent data).

The scale of exports has grown rapidly alongside production. A decade ago, avocados were a much smaller trade commodity. But global exports of avocados jumped from about $3 billion USD in 2014 to $9.6 billion in 2024, driven largely by Mexico’s expansion. Mexico alone made up 40% of the total global avocado export value in 2024 – a reflection of both the volume and the premium prices Mexican Hass avocados fetch. Peru and Colombia have emerged as significant exporters in recent years, but they still trail far behind. Mexico shipped roughly 1.3 million tons to international markets in 2024 (an all-time high), whereas the second-largest exporter, Peru, exported around 0.57 million tons that year. The sheer gap illustrates Mexico’s dominance.

It’s also illuminating to see how avocados compare to Mexico’s other famous exports. In value, avocados now rank among Mexico’s top agricultural exports, competing with products like beer, tequila, and tomatoes. In 2024, avocados were the #3 agricultural export by value (just after beer and tequila), highlighting how a once-humble fruit has become an economic powerhouse for the country.

All these numbers paint a clear picture: Michoacán – as the engine of Mexico’s avocado industry – is unrivaled on the world stage. Whether in terms of tons harvested, dollars earned, or share of market, it stands at the pinnacle of the avocado world.

The Beating Heart of the Global Avocado Market

Strolling through a Michoacán avocado orchard today, it’s hard not to feel the magnitude of what has been achieved. The air carries the subtle buttery scent of ripe avocados. Workers carefully clip fruit after fruit, filling crates that will be on trucks to the border by evening, and perhaps on someone’s breakfast table in another country by the end of the week. Michoacán has become the beating heart of a global market, pulsing with life and economic activity from these groves of green.

This transformation did not happen overnight. It’s the result of natural bounty meeting global opportunity – the convergence of Michoacán’s ideal environment with a world that developed an insatiable appetite for avocados. By tracing the journey from local farms to international fame, we see how a combination of history, policy, and nature propelled Michoacán to the top. The 1990s opened trade doors and sparked a boom; the skill and hard work of Michoacán’s growers ensured they could seize that moment. Now, every avocado that leaves Uruapan or Tancítaro (towns at the heart of “avocado country”) carries with it a piece of Mexican sunshine and soil to distant markets.

Crucially, the story of Michoacán’s avocado dominance is also a human story. It’s about farmers and families whose livelihoods blossomed alongside the orchards. It’s about communities that have been revitalized by a fruit – schools built, jobs created, and migration slowed as people find prosperity at home. And it’s about Mexico carving out a proud place in global trade through an item that is intimately tied to its land and culture. As one grower put it, “Since Michoacán has been able to export avocados to the world, it has drastically changed the quality of life in our communities”. The avocados of Michoacán have not only dominated markets; they have changed lives.

Looking ahead, the world’s love affair with the avocado shows few signs of slowing. Forecasts suggest that by the end of this decade, global demand will climb even higher, and production could reach new records. New countries are planting avocados, and Mexico faces healthy competition, but Michoacán’s head start and natural edge keep it in pole position. The state is already working on sustainable practices – from reforestation projects to water management – to ensure that its avocado groves remain productive for generations to come, without spoiling the environment that made them so fruitful.

In the grand tapestry of global agriculture, Michoacán stands out as a remarkable success story – a place where geography and opportunity met to create a thriving, world-leading industry. The next time you slice open a creamy Hass avocado for your salad or smoothie, consider this: there’s a good chance it journeyed from a mountainside orchard in Michoacán, nurtured by volcanic soils and gentle rains, picked by skilled hands, and shipped across borders so that you can enjoy its rich flavor. From Michoacán’s trees to plates around the globe, the avocado has made this Mexican state the undeniable heart of the global avocado market – a position it earned through a unique blend of nature’s gifts and human endeavor. Michoacán’s avocado dominance is a testament to how one region can shape the tastes and fortunes of the world, one delicious fruit at a time.