Avocado growers in the eastern part of Michoacán have made a formal request to state authorities to recognize their orchards as pest-free, newspaper El Despertar reported. 

Some 170mi away from the state's major production area of Uruapan, Zitácuaro reportedly has around 5,000 growers of the popular fruit who hope to benefit from the export potential gained from such a declaration.

The Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico (APEAM) announced the Eastern Local Board of Plant Health (JLSV) made the request yesterday.

The story reported APEAM had praised Carlos Herrera Tello for his work on the issue since becoming mayor of Zitácuaro in September, 2015.

Expectations are high the status could be granted by the end of the year, which would add another potential supply source for a global market that simply can't get enough of the "green gold".

Mexico's largest export market for avocados is by far the United States, but the neighboring country's transition to a new administration has slowed down access for fruit from another Mexican state - Jalisco. 

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