The Michoacan Avocado: The “star” of Super Bowl LV and the CJNG siege

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The avocados' fame in the Super Bowl has brought violence to the state of Michoacán, the world's first producer of this fruit (Photo: JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA SERAFÍN / CUARTOSCURO)
The avocados’ fame in the Super Bowl has brought violence to the state of Michoacán, the world’s first producer of this fruit (Photo: JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA SERAFÍN / CUARTOSCURO)

The violence that hits the state Michoacan (west central Mexico) threatens to influence one of the most important exports: the avocado.

This fruit, whose “boom” has spawned significant business with the United States, is estimated to be in the Super Bowl the 2020 about 74,000 tons was consumed – has brought stress and cruelty to the region of Hot countrywhere criminal groups like him Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Cartels United the zones are disputed.

Millionaire exchanges and shooting deaths have avocado growers in the municipalities from Los Reyes, Peribán, Tancítaro and Ario de Rosales, to take up arms against criminals.

The CJNG is one of the criminal groups active in those regions and is currently in a bloody battle for control of land with local criminal cells and self-defense groups. Extortions, kidnappings, and threats have become commonplace in that hell, where the fruit thrives and turns into tons of guacamole that Americans enjoy during the Super Bowl.

The municipalities of Peribán, Los Reyes, Tancítaro and Ario de Rosales, the main fruit producers in Michoacán, have taken measures to prevent future incidents of organized crime (Map: Infobae México)
The municipalities of Peribán, Los Reyes, Tancítaro and Ario de Rosales, the main fruit producers in Michoacán, have taken measures to prevent future incidents of organized crime (Map: Infobae México)

In an interview with The broken chair, a day laborer in the industry assured himself of being threatened the cartel of the four letters, which erupts with extortion and assault demanding some of the merchandise. “We want our product to arrive safely, because trucks with avocado are stolen from us and the grower loses and we all lose “He pointed to the center.

The warning came after several incidents that affected the Michoacan people. Last November, a group of criminals came out Cartels United reached the top part of Tepalcatepec. Videos made by the same hitmen showed shocking images. Armored vehicles, reclining bodies, the endless rattle of long guns and a thunderous explosion that would herald the death of several people.

The attack lasted several weeks. Several days of horror for the villagers. There were deaths and injuries. According to local media, most are from the Jalisco side.

The group of Juan José Farías, aka el “Abuelo”, United Cartels applied its own security protocol: no one could enter or leave. In the last week of December, children, women and men led a self-defense column Michoacan.

Violence in the entity is not newIn fact, it was one of the first places to export marijuana thanks to its fertile land. However, in 2006 the situation got out of hand and the governor of the state launched a call for help to the then President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) in the face of the cruel violence imposed by Los Zetas, La Familia Michoacana and Los Caballeros Templarios. The president’s response was to deploy the military and they have not returned to the barracks since then.

Avocado, a valuable export, could be another victim of the horror that causes hundreds of deaths in Michoacán (Photo: JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA SERAFÍN / CUARTOSCURO)
Avocado, a valuable export, could be another victim of the horror that causes hundreds of deaths in Michoacán (Photo: JUAN JOSÉ ESTRADA SERAFÍN / CUARTOSCURO)

Mexican producers are also called “Green gold” According to the Association of Producers and Packers Exporters of Avocado of Mexico (APEAM, AC), they expect to export more than a million tons to the US, an increase of 4% from 2020.

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The dark side of avocados commercial success: extortion, kidnapping and bloody drug cartel disputes

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