As we head into the college basketball bracket season, Avocados From Mexico and Mission Foods are inviting shoppers to celebrate game day with the return of Taco Tip Off. The two companies have partnered to encourage shoppers to make avocados and tacos the star of their gameday plans.

The one-week suspension of imports of avocados from Mexico was lifted on Feb. 18, and shipments were expected to reach pre-suspension levels as soon as the week of Feb. 20.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced today that its avocado inspection program in Michoacan, Mexico has restarted and avocado exports to the United States have resumed.

APHIS, working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico’s Regional Security Officer, Mexico’s national plant protection organization, and the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers Exporters of Mexico have enacted additional measures that enhance safety for APHIS’ inspectors working in the field, following a threat made to an employee on Feb. 11.  

Over the weekend, the U.S. government suspended avocado imports from Mexico "…until further notice," but retailers, consumers and foodservice professionals can continue to purchase and enjoy avocados from the Dominican Republic. Desbry Tropical Avocados are available in ample supply for immediate shipping.

Calavo Growers Inc., a global leader in the avocado and value-added fresh food industries, announced the promotion of Gordon Breschini to director of national sales for the Calavo Fresh team, and the retirement of industry veteran Bob Collier.

As avocado prices reached near record highs leading up to one of the biggest avocado consumption days, yesterday’s Super Bowl, the United States has temporarily suspended Mexican avocado imports. The suspension was put into place Saturday night after a U.S. plant safety inspector received a threatening phone call.