Mexico Launches Labor Certification for Avocado Exports

As part of Plan Michoacán, the federal government, in coordination with the state government and the avocado sector, presented the Labor Certificate for Avocado Agro-Exports. This new mechanism will begin with avocado and will be gradually expanded to other agricultural export products.

Marath Baruch Bolaños, Minister of Labor (STPS), highlighted that the Agro-Export Labor Certificate aims to ensure that avocado, in addition to being recognized abroad for its quality and flavor, is also recognized for its social responsibility throughout the entire production chain. “So that the world can be certain that behind every export there is decent work, social security, and a future for agricultural day laborers,” he said.

Alejandro Salafranca, Head of the Decent Work Unit, STPS, explained that starting April 1, the Certificate will operate through the VELAGRO platform, hosted within the ministry’s systems. Through this platform, packing plants must register their shipments and request a certificate for each export operation.

He noted that there will be a six-month trial period during which failure to obtain the certificate will not restrict the completion of exports, in order to facilitate the sector’s transition to the new system and allow for the correction of any potential inconsistencies. At the same time, a permanent dialogue and monitoring working group will be established to support implementation and assess the mechanism’s performance.

The new scheme will launch with Hass avocado as the first certified product, with plans to gradually incorporate others, beginning with berries before the end of the year. The goal is that by the end of the current administration, agricultural products destined for export will have a labor certification scheme and a fully formalized workforce throughout their value chains.

Julio Berdegué, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), reported that avocado is among the five products prioritized by the President under Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice. As a result, additional resources will be allocated to strengthen sanitary measures in response to new phytosanitary challenges.

He also highlighted that starting next year, Mexican avocado will be certified as pest-free, deforestation-free, and free of informal labor. He called for work on mechanisms that clearly communicate these attributes to consumers in order to consolidate export strength and translate it into greater social justice and environmental protection.

Raúl Martínez, President, Association of Avocado Producers and Export Packers of Mexico (APEAM), and Miguel Melgoza, President, Board of Directors of the Union of Avocado Packers and Marketers of Michoacan (UDECAM), reaffirmed their support for contributing to labor formalization and dignity in the sector, as well as compliance with all labor and tax obligations, so that every worker has access to social security.

In this regard, Zoé Robledo, Director General, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), detailed that hospital infrastructure continues to be strengthened with the aim of ensuring that medical services are resolved within the healthcare units themselves. He also emphasized that both the new hospital in Uruapan and the existing hospital have been planned to provide the necessary services to reduce patient transfers, allowing for more timely and efficient care.

Alfredo Ramírez, Governor, Michoacan, stated that this certificate represents a major opportunity for avocado to gain additional competitiveness seals that ensure international market, more demanding and higher value and consumption, ontinue to trust the Mexican product.

He noted that this marks a step forward ahead of the USMCA negotiations set to begin next year, positioning Mexico strongly in agro-export products, where Mexican avocado will be among the most closely scrutinized. “We have phytosanitary standards and quality, but now we practically need to work on labor and forest-environmental clearance,” Ramírez said.

In 2024, the government of Michoacan implemented a certification of good practices in avocado cultivation to discourage logging and forest fires caused to establish orchards. This initiative seeks to add value to Michoacán avocado in order to reach new markets and ensure that exports are carried out under an environmental responsibility framework.

Last year, Michoacan led national avocado exports, accounting for US$3.5 billion, followed by Jalisco with US$333 million, Mexico City with US$54.3 million, the State of Mexico with US$19.7 million, and Tamaulipas with US$8.01 million. Meanwhile, the main export destinations were the United States with US$3.4 billion, Canada with US$257 million, Japan with US$108 million, El Salvador with US$38 million, and Honduras with US$31.6 million.