The Ending of Old US Quarantine and Ban on Import of Avocado from Mexico

California avocado growers are not satisfied with the end of a nearly century-old quarantine and ban on importing Mexican-grown avocados into the state. They decided to sue the federal government of creation imminent threat to the state industry. The lawsuit, which was put in U.S. District Court this week, contends that the Mexican avocados contain pests that threaten the US $341 million (251 million EUR) California industry. Some imported avocados shipped on Feb. 1 were found to contain "scale insects of unknown species or species not known to occur in California," the suit claimed. The suit asks the court to bar the government from allowing Mexican avocados into California until risks of an insect infestation have been scientifically determined. The California Avocado Commission promotes and researches issues ranging from production to sale of avocados grown in the state. It represents about 6.000 commercial avocado growers in the state and their 21.000 employees.