US Avocado Import Intelligence
Track who's importing avocado from Mexico — shipments, suppliers, volumes, and FOB prices.
Mexico supplies the overwhelming majority of fresh avocados imported into the United States — roughly four out of every five — and for produce buyers, distributors, and importers, knowing who is bringing that volume in, from which Mexican suppliers, and at what FOB prices is the difference between negotiating with leverage and negotiating blind. Produce Trade IQ tracks 0 active US avocado importers sourcing from Mexico, with shipment records, supplier relationships, and origin patterns updated weekly from CBP customs data.
Below you'll find the top US avocado importers ranked by shipment volume, current FOB price ranges by Mexican crossing, and the ability to track any importer's avocado sourcing in real time. In a market this concentrated — where supply hinges on two Mexican states and the USDA inspection program — visibility into who is sourcing what, and from where, is what separates buyers who plan ahead from buyers who get surprised.
Top Avocado Importers
Ranked by shipment volume
The US avocado import market is led by large produce companies moving thousands of shipments a year, alongside a field of regional distributors and specialty importers. Because nearly all US-bound Mexican avocados flow from a narrow set of approved packers and regions, supplier relationships matter enormously — and they shift as packers gain or lose volume. Click any importer to see their full shipment history, the specific Mexican suppliers they buy from, their origin mix, and how their volumes have changed quarter over quarter.
Where US Avocado Imports Come From
Mexico is the dominant source of US fresh avocado imports, and Mexican avocado production is unusually concentrated. While avocados grow in 30 of Mexico's 32 states, only a small number are authorized to ship to the US market, and production clusters in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt where volcanic soil and elevation produce year-round fruit:
- Michoacán — the heart of the Mexican avocado industry and the single largest production state, responsible for the majority of US-bound volume. For 25 years it was the only region with US market access.
- Jalisco — the second USDA-approved export region, certified more recently, now a meaningful and growing share of US-bound shipments.
- State of Mexico — a smaller production region that supplies the domestic and international markets.
Together Michoacán and Jalisco account for roughly 85% of Mexican avocado production. The concentration is the story: Mexico displaced Chile as the dominant US supplier over the past three decades — Chilean avocados, once more than 80% of US imports, are now a tiny fraction — and that dominance now rests on a narrow base. Buyers who track which packers and regions their competitors source from can see volume shifts early, especially when supply tightens.
When to Buy: Avocado Import Seasonality
Unlike sharply seasonal crops, Mexican avocados ship to the US year-round — one of the reasons Mexico became the dominant supplier. But volume and pricing still follow a rhythm:
- Peak volume, February through May — the heaviest US-bound shipping window, anchored by the run-up to and aftermath of the Super Bowl, the single largest avocado-consumption event in the US.
- Year-round base supply — Michoacán's growing conditions allow continuous harvest, so avocados never fully leave the market the way a seasonal crop does.
- Price sensitivity to supply shocks — because the supply base is narrow, avocado prices react sharply when production dips or when the USDA inspection program is disrupted, more so than crops with diversified origins.
The year-round calendar makes avocados feel stable, but the concentration on two states and one inspection program means real import data — who is still shipping, and at what volume — tells you far more about near-term supply than the harvest calendar alone.
Two States, One Inspection Program: Why Avocado Supply Is Fragile
Avocados enter the US duty-free under USMCA, as long as they meet rules of origin — so unlike fresh tomatoes, there is no antidumping duty on the table. The constraint on avocados is different and structural: only Michoacán and Jalisco are USDA-authorized to export fresh avocados to the US, and every shipment depends on the USDA APHIS inspection program operating on the ground in Mexico.
That dependency is a real supply risk. USDA inspections in Michoacán have been paused in the past over inspector-safety incidents and resumed as conditions eased — and when inspections stop, US-bound supply can tighten within days, pushing prices up fast. For buyers, this is exactly why sourcing visibility matters in avocados specifically: a narrow approved-region base plus an inspection-dependent supply chain means a disruption shows up as a price and availability shock quickly. Watching real import flows — which packers are still shipping, where volume is concentrating — is the early signal that the harvest calendar can't give you. This is the kind of supply dynamic Produce Trade IQ is built to track.
Current FOB (free on board) shipping-point prices for avocados by Mexican border crossing, sourced from USDA Market News and updated weekly. FOB prices reflect the cost at the point of entry before freight and handling — the baseline buyers use to benchmark what they're paying, and the first place a supply disruption shows up.
Avocado FOB Prices
Daily USDA Market News pricing for avocado across 19 US markets, with historical trends and regional comparisons.
View USDA Prices →How Produce Buyers Use Avocado Import Data
Produce buyers, importers, and distributors use Produce Trade IQ's avocado data to:
- See competitor sourcing — find out which Mexican packers and suppliers your competitors buy avocados from, how much volume they move, and whether they're concentrating or diversifying.
- Discover new suppliers — identify the approved Mexican exporters actively shipping avocados to the US, ranked by the volume and consistency of their shipment history.
- Benchmark pricing — compare current FOB prices across crossings against what you're paying, so you know whether a quote is competitive in a volatile market.
- Anticipate supply shocks — track how volume responds when the inspection program or a growing region is disrupted, so you can move before a shortage hits your costs.
- Reduce concentration risk — in a market dependent on two states, quickly see where available volume is coming from when supply tightens.
Avocado Import FAQ
Where does the US import most of its avocados from?
The United States imports roughly 83% of its fresh avocados from Mexico, where production is concentrated in Michoacán and Jalisco — the only two Mexican states authorized to export fresh avocados to the US. Mexico displaced Chile as the dominant supplier over the past three decades.
Who are the largest US avocado importers?
The top US avocado importers — ranked by shipment volume from Mexico — are listed above, updated weekly from CBP customs records, spanning large produce companies and regional distributors.
Which Mexican states can export avocados to the US?
Only Michoacán and Jalisco are USDA-authorized to export fresh avocados to the United States. Michoacán was the sole approved region for 25 years until Jalisco was certified more recently. Together they account for about 85% of Mexican production.
When is avocado supply and pricing most volatile?
Avocados ship year-round with peak volume February through May (around the Super Bowl). Because supply depends on two states and the USDA inspection program, prices can spike quickly when inspections are disrupted or production dips.
Are there tariffs on Mexican avocados?
Fresh avocados from Mexico enter the US duty-free under USMCA as long as they meet rules of origin — unlike fresh tomatoes, which carry a 17.09% antidumping duty. The main constraint on avocado supply is the two-state export approval and the USDA inspection program, not tariffs.
How current is this avocado import data?
Shipment records and importer rankings are updated weekly from CBP customs data; FOB prices are updated weekly from USDA Market News.
Track Avocado Shipments in Real Time
ProduceTradeIQ shows you who imports avocado, from which Mexican suppliers, at what volumes, and at what prices. 7-day free trial.