An economic contribution analysis from Texas A&M University (2022) shows that Mexican Hass avocado imports have also positively benefited – and grown – U.S. national and state economies in a significant way, as avocado imports move through the food supply chain stimulating various market activities.
In 2021/22, $4 billion of U.S. imports of Mexican Hass avocados contributed the following to the U.S. economy:
- $11.2 Billion in U.S. economic output
- $6.1 Billion in U.S. GDP (value added)
- $3.9 billion in U.S. labor income
- $1.3 billion in U.S. taxes
- 58,299 jobs for American workers
- Much of the economic benefit accrued to the wholesale, retail and service industries at both state and national levels.
- The report also showed that, as a result of the growing demand for avocados, domestic U.S. growers have also benefited from higher price points and a larger market for their products.
- This positive impact is projected to grow given the large and expanding demand push for avocados that is driving both the U.S. and Mexican avocado production.
Jobs in Mexico
- The Mexican avocado industry is responsible for establishing a vibrant local economic engine for Michoacánthat has encouraged regional economic growthand created jobs in Mexico. The Mexican avocado industry creates approximately 78,000 direct and permanent jobs and 310,000 indirect and seasonal jobs, providing a productive living in a region that was once one of the largest sources of migrant workers in the U.S.
- As production has grown, (the supply of avocados from Mexico in the U.S. has jumped to more than 2 billion pounds since 1997) avocado farming continues to be a viable and sustainable business venture in Mexico.
- In addition to the numbers, there is a very important human side of what all of this means to families in Mexico. There are approximately 34,000 growers and 84 packers, and the vast majority are cultivating in less than 5 acres – small family farms (and not large corporations) are benefiting from the Mexican avocado industry.
