Jalisco, México – Mexico’s avocado industry is entering 2026 with a powerful sense of momentum, offering a rare “win-win” scenario for both local shoppers and international football fans. While families in Mexico City are enjoying significantly lower prices at their local markets, producers are simultaneously preparing to ship a record-breaking volume of fruit to the United States for the upcoming Super Bowl.
Shoppers in the capital have seen the average price of avocados drop to MX$55/kg, down from MX$75/kg just one year ago. This shift is primarily the result of an exceptionally healthy domestic harvest. Favorable weather conditions across Mexico’s growing regions during the tail end of 2025 boosted the local supply, ensuring that plenty of high-quality fruit remains available for the national market even as export demands climb.
The timing of this abundance aligns perfectly with the Super Bowl in the United States, which stands as the single largest event for avocado consumption globally. The Association of Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers of Mexico (APEAM) expects to ship a historic 127,000 tons of avocados to the U.S. in the weeks leading up to the event. This 11% increase over last year’s figures highlights the industry’s ability to scale up production while maintaining the strict quality standards that international retailers require.
While Michoacán continues to lead production – contributing 88% of the export volume from hubs like Tancítaro and Uruapan – Jalisco is also playing a vital role, providing 12% of the shipments from municipalities such as Zapotlán el Grande. This coordinated effort ensures a steady flow of fruit that meets the specific size and ripeness preferences of global supermarket chains.
Beyond simple supply and demand, the industry is making significant strides in social and environmental responsibility through integrated oversight. A new federal program known as VELAGRO has officially certified avocados as the first fresh export product to guarantee ethical practices across the entire production chain. This comprehensive initiative monitors every phase – from initial planting and crop management to harvesting and packing – ensuring that the fruit meets both rigorous “decent work” labor standards and strict phytosanitary requirements for food safety and health.
This commitment to quality is reinforced by sophisticated environmental protections and high-tech monitoring. The “Guardian Forestal” system in Michoacán uses real-time technology to monitor over 180,000 hectares of land, ensuring that orchards comply with environmental regulations and do not contribute to illegal logging.
Coupled with a massive reforestation project aimed at planting 650,000 new trees, these initiatives ensure that the “green gold” of México remains a responsible and thriving pillar of the economy for years to come.
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