Mexiconews

Approximately 75% of avocado packing facilities in Mexico’s Michoacán state have been cleared for export following a pause in the avocado trade with the United States over security concerns, Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s advisor for international agri-food affairs and strategic issues under the USMCA, announced on Saturday.  The re-approved facilities handle roughly 85% of Michoacán’s avocado exports and the rest will be restored soon, according to Berdegué.  Former agriculture minister Julio Berdegué, who now coordinates international agri-food affairs for Mexico, was able to announce the resumption of avocado exports after a series of meetings and concrete actions by state and federal officials to address the U.S. concerns and boost security in Michoacán’s avocado belt. (Camila Ayala Benabib/Cuartoscuro) Mexico exports over 1 million tonnes of avocados a year, according to data from the Mexican Agriculture Ministry. Meanwhile, Michoacán contributes the highest avocado produ...

Just weeks after Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico, the Salinas, California-based company is voluntarily recalling some products that include jalapeño chiles due to concerns about possible salmonella contamination. The decision by Taylor Fresh Foods — the parent company — is linked to a recall issued by San Diego-based Coast Citrus Distributors, which announced it was voluntarily recalling fresh jalapeños due to food safety concerns. Taylor Farms is based in California but much of its produce is grown in Mexico. After the current one-two punch to its reputation, the parent company and a subsidiary have severed ties with one of its suppliers, a farm in Sinaloa. (Taylor Farms Mexico) Taylor Fresh Foods said in a statement that it is not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapeños. In its own statement, Coast Citrus said it will “no longer” source peppers from a farmer based in the northwestern Mexic...

Inflation in Mexico fell to just 0.12 points above the Bank of Mexico’s 3% target in July, but the central bank’s governor says it’s too early to declare victory in the fight against rising prices. “At the Bank of Mexico, we’re not claiming victory yet,” Victoria Rodríguez Ceja told the newspaper El Financiero in an interview published on Monday . Her remarks came after the national statistics agency INEGI reported on Friday that Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate was 3.12% in July, down from 3.37% in June . Rodríguez noted that the headline rate in July was the lowest since May 2020. However, “even though inflation is practically at the [3%] target,” the Bank of Mexico will continue to seek low and stable price rises, the central bank governor told El Financiero. INEGI’s 3.12% annual inflation reading in July was the product of 3.95% year-over-year core inflation and 0.29% non-core inflation. Annual core inflation r...

Mexico’s Under-20 men’s team topped off a sparkling tournament run by defeating Team USA 2-0 on Sunday in front of 50,000 fans at Mexico City’s Estadio Banorte (formerly Azteca) to claim the Concacaf championship in that category. Defender Cristóbal Alfaro scored twice off set pieces — once in each half — as El Tri collected its 15th U-20 confederation title, by far the most among the 41 Concacaf nations. The U.S. is second with three U-20 trophies. “It’s a dream come true,” Alfaro told ESPN. “Although I scored, this is a collective achievement. I thank the fans for their unconditional support. It was an incredible experience to win at home.” El Tri finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0-0 record, scoring 17 goals and allowing just 1. Simply by reaching the final, Mexico had qualified for the 2028 Olympics . As host of the Los Angeles Games, the U.S. was already guaranteed a spot.  Mexico opened the scoring in minute 28 off a free kick from the left flank about 35 meters from...

TOPOLOBAMPO, Mexico — When federal officials finally unveiled a plan last week to address the 12-year conflict over a nearly completed ammonia plant beside Ohuira Bay, Indigenous Yoreme activist, rural sociologist and law student Melina Maldonado did not feel relieved. She felt crushed. Melina Maldonado Sandoval, rural sociologist and law student, comes from a long line of Yoreme fisherfolk. (Tracy L. Barnett) After six days of roundtable discussions, she had begun to feel hopeful; it seemed they were really taking in new information and seeing a different side to the debate. The proposal led her to believe otherwise. “They didn’t listen to our reasons for saying no,” Maldonado said. “They listened for a way to make it a yes.” The federal proposal promises environmental safeguards, community monitoring and public investment around the German-backed GPO-Proman plant in northern Sinaloa state . But it leaves the project’s operation largely intact — and that has exposed the fundament...

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conferences set much of the week’s agenda, moving from children’s social media use to a government transparency decree, a high-profile murder, fracking policy and a diplomatic breakthrough with Peru. Economic data told a mixed story too, with a strengthening peso set against a sharp drop in Pemex profit and a battered Sinaloa economy. Security developments also kept pace, including the arrest of a former Guerrero governor on Ayotzinapa-related charges, a jump in U.S. rewards tied to CJNG’s new leadership, and a fresh U.S. suspension of avocado certifications in Michoacán. On the public health and safety front, a UNAM cheating scandal, a UNESCO deadline to protect the vaquita and a cyclosporiasis scare linked to Riviera Maya travel all drew attention. Didn’t have time to catch this week’s top stories? Here’s what you missed. Economy: Peso strengthens and avocado trade swings Mexico’s currency ex...