Michoacán, Mexico – If you’re paying more for your avocado toast, don’t blame your local grocer.
KOMO reports drug cartels are responsible for the current disruption of exports of avocados from Mexico to the United States.
The Department of Agriculture suspended avocado imports on Tuesday, February 15th, after an inspector received a death threat on their cellphone.
Cartels now control much of the agricultural production in the Mexican state of Michoacán, which is the only state allowed to export avocados to the U.S.
The DEA says the arrest of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, created new crime organizations looking to branch out into other industries.
The USDA is currently negotiating to keep their inspectors safe and hope imports will resume soon.