MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� U.S. government inspections of avocados and mangoes in the Mexican state of Michoacan will 鈥済radually鈥� resume, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar announced Friday, a week after they were suspended over an assault on inspectors.
The U.S. Agriculture Department inspectors 鈥渨ill gradually begin to return to the packing plants following recent aggression against them,鈥� Salazar said in a statement late Friday. 鈥淗owever, it is still necessary to advance in guaranteeing their security before reaching full operations.鈥�
鈥淚n fact, more work still needs to be done so that the (agriculture) inspectors are safe and can resume inspections and thereby eliminate the impediments to the trade of avocado and mango to the United States from Michoacan.鈥�
Last weekend, two USDA employees were assaulted and temporarily held by assailants in Michoacan, Salazar said earlier this week. That led the U.S. to suspend inspections in Mexico鈥檚 biggest avocado-producing state.
The employees work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Because the United States also grows avocados, U.S. inspectors work in Mexico to ensure exported avocados don鈥檛 carry diseases that could hurt U.S. crops.
The Associated Press
