Deforestation in Mexico

US-Mexico: US Avocado Sellers Fail to End Sourcing from Illegally Deforested Land in Mexico

Companies’ Practices Incentivize Deforestation, Belie Sustainability Commitments

August 2024

(New York, August 6, 2024) – Leading U.S. avocado importers Calavo Growers, Fresh Del Monte Produce, Mission Produce, and West Pak Avocado have continued to source from Mexican orchards containing illegally deforested land in 2023 and 2024 even after being informed of deforestation within their supply chains, Climate Rights International said today based on a study conducted with the Mexican NGO Guardián Forestal. The companies should immediately stop buying from orchards on illegally deforested land and ensure that their sourcing practices are not incentivizing the destruction of Mexico’s forests.   

The four companies have supplied avocados from Mexico to major supermarket chains throughout the United States. Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods all sourced from at least one of the four companies in 2023.    

A November 2023 report by Climate Rights International, “Unholy Guacamole: Deforestation, Water Capture, and Violence Behind Mexico’s Avocado Exports to the U.S. and Other Major Markets,” documented how the U.S.-Mexico avocado trade is fueling widespread illegal deforestation and water shortages in the Mexican states of Michoacán and Jalisco, and how local residents whose efforts to protect their forests and water supplies have been met with violence and intimidation. Using shipping records obtained through Mexico’s transparency law, the report revealed that the four top U.S. importers, as well as other companies, had sourced avocados from orchards containing illegally deforested land in 2022. 

“By buying from orchards containing illegally cleared lands, the companies are effectively incentivizing further deforestation, as well as acts of intimidation and violence against local residents trying to stop it,” said Daniel Wilkinson, Senior Policy Advisor at Climate Rights International.  “And by continuing to do so after being informed of the consequences, they’re showing that their public commitments to sustainable sourcing are, when it comes to Mexican avocados, little more than greenwashing.”  

Climate Rights International and Guardián Forestal recently obtained avocado shipping records for 2023 and the first trimester of 2024 from the Mexican government. The organizations identified 60 examples of the four companies sourcing avocados from orchards in Michoacán containing deforested land—including 15 examples for each company. (See below for satellite images and a list of the orchards.)  

As documented in the 2023 report, virtually all of the avocado-driven deforestation in Michoacán and Jalisco over the past two decades has been illegal. Moreover, in many instances, the land has been cleared by intentionally setting forest fires, which is also a crime.  The total amount of avocado-driven deforestation in the two states over the past decade very likely exceeds 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares)—and could be more than 70,000 acres. Tens—if not hundreds—of thousands of acres of forest in the two states remain at risk of deforestation for avocado exports, according to academic studies.   

The conversion of natural forests to avocado plantations releases climate-warming greenhouse gases, reduces carbon storage, and undercuts biodiversity. It also reduces the replenishment of aquifers, which—together with the heavy and often unauthorized use of water by avocado orchards—contributes to water shortages that impact local communities.   

More than half of the 60 examples involve transactions that occurred after Climate Rights International provided the companies with documentation of deforestation within their supply chains and evidence that avocado-driven deforestation is taking a serious toll on the rights of local residents and the environment. Climate Rights International wrote to the four companies in early November 2023 and presented the main findings of the report that was released at the end of that month, including evidence indicating that they had sourced avocados from orchards containing illegally deforested land in 2022. Climate Rights International followed up with them directly several weeks later to provide the full report, which includes more than a dozen examples for each company.    

The four US-based avocado importers have stated publicly they are committed to ensuring the sustainability of their supply chains. Major supermarkets who have sourced avocados from them have made similar commitments, publicizing codes of conduct stating that suppliers must comply with certain environmental and human rights requirements, including not violating environmental laws of their countries of operation.   

In February 2024, the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar – former US Senator from Colorado and Interior Secretary in the Obama administration – traveled to Michoacán, the heart of Mexican avocado production, and held a press conference with Governor Alfredo RamĂ­rez Bedolla in which they announced their shared commitment to halting avocado exports from illegally deforested land. “They shouldn’t have the opportunity to sell those avocados to the United States market,” Salazar said.  

“The continued sourcing of avocados from deforested land by these companies is in defiance of the public statements of Mexican and U.S. officials and shows a serious disregard for the well-being of local communities and the environment,” said Wilkinson.  “Calavo Growers, Fresh Del Monte Produce, Mission Produce and West Pak can play a critical role in ending deforestation by the avocado industry by ending their sourcing from illegally deforested land.”   

Examples of Avocado Sourcing from Orchards on Deforested Lands 

Below are examples of purchases of avocados made by Calavo Growers, Fresh Del Monte, Mission Produce, and West Pak, between May 2023 and April 2024, from orchards containing deforested land. Government records indicate that, as with all conversion of forests to avocado orchards over the past two decades in Michoacán, the deforestation in these orchards was illegal. These purchases are inconsistent with the companies’ public commitments to ensuring the sustainability of their supply chains.   

Calavo Growers

“Sustainability is embedded in all of our decision-making processes, whether they occur within our packing, distribution and manufacturing operations or extend to our individual growers and suppliers from whom we source.” 

— Calavo Growers, “Sustainability.” 1 Calavo, “Sustainability,” https://calavo.com/sustainability/ (accessed April 30, 2024).

Calavo Growers sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in December 2023.2 Calavo sourced avocados from orchard HUE08161070410 on 12/20/23, 12/21/23, 12/22/23, 12/26/23, and 12/27/23.

Calavo Growers sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in November 2023.3 Calavo sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160794632 on 11/21/2023. 

Calavo Growers sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in May 2023, and March 2024.4 Calavo sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160660973 on 05/03/23, 03/13/24, 03/14/24, 03/16/24, and 03/19/24.

Fresh Del Monte Produce  

“Our vendors and growers comply with all applicable local environmental laws, regulations, and standards and adopt and implement the best practices that protect the environment.” 

–Fresh Del Monte, “Vendors and Growers.” 5 Fresh Del Monte, “Vendors and Growers,” https://freshdelmonte.com/vendors-growers/ (accessed April 30, 2024).  

“At Fresh Del Monte, sustainability isn’t just a word, it’s woven into every fiber of our business.” 

–Fresh Del Monte, “Our Approach.” 6Fresh Del Monte, “Our Approach,” https://freshdelmonte.com/our-approach/ (accessed April 30, 2024).

Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in March and April 2024.7 Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from orchard HUE08161070336 on 03/12/24, 03/13/24, 03/14/24, 03/15/24, 03/19/24, 03/22/24, and 04/05/24.

Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in December 2023 and February 2024.8 Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160826463 on 12/07/23, 12/08/23, and 02/23/24.

Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below on in September 2023.9 Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160010356 on 09/04/23, and 09/05/23.

Mission Produce 

“Our industry faces numerous environmental challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. So, we take meaningful action to minimize our operational impact on the environment and respond to opportunities to take care of communities in which we operate.”  

–Mission Produce “The Journey of a Sustainable Avocado.”10  Mission Produce, “2023 Sustainability Report” https://missionproduce.com/sustainability#:~:text=Our%20Commitment%20to%20Sustainability,future%20for%20generations%20to%20come. Accessed July 30, 2023).

Mission Produce sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in November 2023.11 Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160530668 on 11/23/23.

Mission Produce sourced avocados from the orchard outlined below in August and November 2023.12  Fresh Del Monte sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160912780 on 08/18/23 and 11/10/23.

West Pak

 “Our Mission[:] To bring delicious, healthy, sustainable, and responsibly sourced avocados to consumers around the world.” 

West Pak Avocado “Company Overview.”13 West Pak Avocado, “Company Overview,” https://www.westpakavocado.com/about/ (accessed April 30, 2024).

West Pak purchased from the orchard outlined below in January 2024.14  West Pak sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160490979 on January 16, 2024. The orchard was among those flagged in our November 2023 report.15Climate Rights International referenced orchard HUE08160490979 in “Unholy Guacamole” (at footnote 408).

West Pak purchased from the orchard outlined below in March and April 2024.16 West Pak sourced avocados from orchard HUE08161070708 on 03/08/24, 04/01/24, 04/02/24, 04/03/24, 04/04/24, 04/05/24, 04/06/24, 04/08/24, 04/09/24, and 04/11/24.

West Pak purchased from the orchard outlined below in November and December 2023.17 West Pak sourced avocados from orchard HUE08160490766 on 11/27/23, 11/28/23, 11/29/23, and 12/06/23.,   The orchard was among those flagged in our November 2023 report. 18Climate Rights International referenced orchard HUE08160490766 in “Unholy Guacamole” (at footnote 409).

West Pak purchased from the orchard outlined below in March and April 2024.19 West Pak sourced avocados from orchard HUE08161070572 on 03/27/23, 03/28/23, 03/29/23, 03/30/23, 03/27/24, 04/01/24, 04/02/24, 04/03/24, 04/04/24, 04/05/24, 04/06/24, and 04/08/24.

Full List of Examples 

The following tables provide a full list of the 60 examples, identified by Climate Rights International and Guardián Forestal, of orchards that were deforested—apparently illegally—and that supplied the four companies between May 2023 and April 2024. In most cases, the company purchased from the orchard on more than one occasion during the one-year period. Each orchard is identified by its official registration number. The date included in the table refers to the most recent of these transactions.    

Calavo Growers

Orchard (HUE Code) Date of Transaction
HUE08161070336
April 17, 2024
HUE08160096109
March 23, 2024
HUE08160660973
March 19, 2024
HUE08160825241
February 9, 2024
HUE08160826641
February 2, 2024
HUE08161070410
December 27, 2023
HUE08160794632
November 21, 2023
HUE08160190829
November 29, 2023
HUE08160826643
November 6, 2023
HUE08160754226
November 1, 2023
HUE08160440117
October 2, 2023
HUE08160850504
September 27, 2023
HUE08160640433
September 11, 2023
HUE08160940057
September 5, 2023
HUE08160971155
August 17, 2023

Fresh Del Monte 

Orchard (HUE Code) Date of Transaction
HUE08161070336
April 5, 2024
HUE08160826463
February 23, 2024
HUE08160795116
February 7, 2024
HUE08160971677
November 25, 2023
HUE08160870594
October 16, 2023
HUE08160972039
September 22, 2023
HUE08160870484
September 21, 2023
HUE08160010356
September 5, 2023
HUE08161070373
September 4, 2023
HUE08160837633
September 2, 2023
HUE08160795222
August 29, 2023
HUE08160826989
August 23, 2023
HUE08160971990
August 23, 2023
HUE08160826723
August 23, 2023
HUE08160837618
August 4, 2023

Mission Produce 

Orchard (HUE Code) Date of Transaction
HUE08161070708
January 23, 2024
HUE08160530568
January 13, 2024
HUE08160530573
January 13, 2024
HUE08160490979
December 30, 2023
HUE08160190925
December 30, 2023
HUE08160096126
December 8, 2023
HUE08160190977
November 29, 2023
HUE08160530668
November 23, 2023
HUE08160583115
November 15, 2023
HUE08160794810
November 14, 2023
HUE08160971155
November 14, 2023
HUE08160912780
November 10, 2023
HUE08160850504
November 1, 2023
HUE08160220258
October 20, 2023
HUE08161070379
August 24, 2023

West Pak

Orchard (HUE Code) Date of Transaction
HUE08161070708
April 11, 2024
HUE08161070572
April 8, 2024
HUE08161070490 
April 5, 2024
HUE08160490820 
February 15, 2024 
HUE08160490979
January 16, 2024
HUE08160010416 
December 29, 2023
HUE08160490766
December 6, 2023
HUE08160826565 
December 1, 2023
HUE08160825724 
November 30, 2023
HUE08160490328 
November 6, 2023
HUE08160826941 
October 26, 2023
HUE08160971674 
October 17, 2023
HUE08160900946 
September 23, 2023
HUE08160826671 
September 22, 2023
HUE08160490665 
April 24, 2023

 Methodology 

Climate Rights International used Mexico’s Federal Law of Transparency and Access to Public Government Information to obtain the government polygon maps of all orchards in Mexico certified to export to the United States. The maps were provided in by Mexico’s National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality (SENASICA) in response to transparency law request 330028323000032. Climate Rights International also obtained government shipping records for these orchards—called “Harvest Registration forms” (Bitácora de Cosecha, BICO)—from SENASICA in response to transparency law request number 330028323000180. These BICO records accompany each shipment of avocados that is ultimately destined for U.S. export from the orchard to the packinghouse where it is packaged for export. The BICO record lists the official registration number of the orchard of origin (beginning with HUE0816 for Michoacán orchards) and the packinghouse destination.   

By comparing the registration numbers associated with the polygon maps of export-certified orchards with the registration numbers in BICO records of shipments, Guardián Forestal and Climate Rights International were able to identify instances of orchards containing lands that were deforested–apparently illegally–and that supplied major companies in 2023 and the first trimester of 2024. 

Guardián Forestal used its deforestation alert system, which integrates alerts developed with proprietary algorithms, alerts on forest cover change and vegetation disturbances from Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) and satellite image base maps from the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). 

Climate Rights International analyzed and confirmed the results using the polygon maps of the orchards (provided in KMZ and KML format) on Google Earth Pro, which allows the viewer to review sequences of satellite images of the same pieces of land over time. The Google Earth images reproduced here are from the providers Airbus, Maxar Technologies, CNES, and Landsat/Copernicus. 

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