Update: USDA Shifts & Hours Reduction
Mexican USDA inspector branch now falls under U.S. Embassy oversight
(This is an update from Thursdays breaking news.)
The USDA branch in Mexico, which manages APHIS certifications like the hot water treatment required for mangoes, has recently undergone a significant structural shift. Now, suddenly, operating under the authority of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, the branch is subject to new layers of oversight and evolving protocols.
USDA inspectors stationed in Mexico play a critical role in the system. They oversee and certify that high-risk fruits—such as mangoes, guavas, and papayas—meet U.S. import standards designed to prevent the introduction and spread of pests like fruit flies. Their work goes far beyond supervising post-harvest treatments like hot water immersion. They monitor facility compliance, verify cold chain integrity, and issue the phytosanitary certifications that allow fruit to legally cross into the U.S.
One major change now coming into play that will greatly affect the entire mango industry in Mexico involves the enforcement of stricter Mexican labor laws. Under the updated rules, a six-day workweek followed by a mandated day of rest (ideally Sunday) is required. This shift was first implemented last year and effectively cut out one packing day per week. Daily shifts are now limited to eight hours, with only nine hours of overtime allowed across any three-day period—if I understood the legalese correctly.
The bigger issue than the reduction of hours is that there simply aren’t enough USDA officers to meet the demand, and there’s currently a serious hiring freeze across all U.S. government agencies. This, despite the fact that Mexican mango producers foot the bill for the officers’ labor.
April and May will be the toughest months under this new system. Packhouses are open all over Mexico, and with fewer officers working fewer hours, it’s going to be brutal. June gets easier as northern packhouses—larger and more efficient—come online. They can rotate multiple shifts into the reduced hours and pack more fruit in less time. By then, most southern packhouses will have already wrapped up for the season and those inspectors move north.
According to José Ángel Crespo—Crespo Organic jefe and president of EMEX—the new protocol could result in roughly 20% less fruit being packed overall. That means committed program business will reign supreme, and spot market pricing will likely climb. We may also see stronger grower-level pricing simply because more fruit will stay on the trees—there won’t be enough hours, to pack it all.
The most important takeaway? No one really knows how this will play out in real-time packing. It’s going to take time to understand the full impact on the ground.
Crop Update: April – July Outlook
Currently, El Grupo Crespo is packing Crespo Organic mangoes out of three southern packhouses: Bola de Oro, Los Gorditos, and Empaque Don Jorge II. Next week, Empaque Don Jorge I (El Original)—Latin America’s largest hydrothermal facility—will open its doors.
April is shaping up to be full of decent orchard abundance, especially with Oaxaca’s Chahuites region peaking throughout the month.
May will bring a slight dip in volume as the southern regions wind down and Nayarit begins its harvest. By June and July, volumes are expected to surge again with the wall of mangoes that comes when Nayarit peaks and Sinaloa kicks off. Specialty varietals are also set to begin in June, setting the stage for a solid, juicy Summer Mango Mania.
