California avocado farmers issue dire warning as Mexican imports surge

California farmers are calling on the Trump administration to adopt a “substantive” seasonal tariff rate on Mexican avocado imports to help save an industry that growers warn is struggling to survive. “If the trend continues the way it’s going, I mean, we’ve been having some pretty difficult conversations,” said Andy Sheaffer, who owns Vista Punta Gorda farms in Ventura, California.“It’s really difficult to operate when you have such volatility and then when the volatility shifts to really a negative return.” Sheaffer, who has been farming for the past 20 years, said prices have recently plummeted for growers due to the influx of avocados from Mexico that have flooded the US market without any real regulation. “We started out [last year May 2025] over $2 per pound, I think it was $2.20 to $2.30 a pound,” Sheaffer told The California Post, who is now selling those same avocados for $0.75 cents to $1.10.

“It just fell off a cliff in the latter part of the season.” Ken Melban, president of the California Avocado Commission, told The Post that 10 years ago the state had roughly 6,000 growers, now that number has dropped to about 3,000. The problem is a multitude of factors including high labor costs and water regulations that make it hard for US growers to compete with Mexico, which currently pays zero tariffs on avocados under the USMCA agreement.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “We’ve elected these politicians who have decided to impose these regulations and these labor cost increases on us because they value that as an important component,” Sheaffer said.

“But then, on the flip side, we’re allowing these countries who don’t have that same value system basically unfettered access to our market.” Shea...