As of 8 November, Guatemala will be able to export Hass avocados under a systems approach
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-Aphis) has authorised imports of Hass avocados from Guatemala after 20 years of negotiations.
As of 8 November, imports will be permitted under a systems approach, requiring the registration of packhouses and farms, along with additional safeguarding measures to mitigate against the risk of pests and disease.
According to the Avocado Committee of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport), Guatemala exported US$16mn of avocados in 2023, an increase of 33 per cent compared to the previous year. Europe, Central America and Canada were the biggest markets.
The main production areas are Chimaltenango Jalapa, Santa Rosa and Las Verapaces, and the peak production season runs from November to March.
