About MHAIA

The Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) is dedicated to a consistent and reliable supply of high quality avocados from Mexico to the U.S. throughout the year. MHAIA, which supports research, development, and the marketing program for the imported Hass avocados, ensures the health and food safety of imported avocados by partnering with the Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM).

In 2013, under the supervision of the USDA, APEAM and MHAIA created Avocados From Mexico, a non-profit marketing organization. It is charged to build a brand for Mexican avocados and to drive avocado demand in the U.S. Avocados From Mexico has played a fundamental role in growing the Mexican avocado industry’s market share in the U.S.

Excellence Through Partnership

Avocados From Mexico is a subsidiary of MHAIA and a joint venture between Mexican Avocado producers & packers (APEAM A.C.), formed for the purpose of advertising, promotion, public relations, and research of all stakeholders of Avocados From Mexico. Under agreements, MHAIA and APEAM have combined resources to fund and manage Avocados From Mexico with the intent to provide a focused, highly effective and efficient marketing program in the United States.

MHAIA’s hard work and collaboration with APEAM has resulted in significant market expansion in terms of both the number of importers and the volume of imported avocados. Thanks to this partnership and program, the annual volume of Mexican avocado imports doubled in seven years: from 1.2 billion pounds in 2014 to 2.4 billion in 2021.

Now, there are more than 200 importers and more than 2 billion pounds of Mexican avocados imported annually.

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Who Makes Up MHAIA?

MHAIA’s successful growth can be attributed to its balanced, experienced, and professional board of directors, which is comprised of:

• 4 board members from MHAIA and corresponding alternates
• 4 board members from APEAM and corresponding alternates

Leaving a Living Legacy

The monarch butterfly is an important cultural symbol for the people of Michoacán in Mexico and is actually the state insect of seven U.S. states. But the beautiful orange and black butterfly is under threat. MHAIA is helping the monarchs’ fight for survival through reforestation and sustainable farming initiatives with its alliance with Forests For Monarchs (FFM). Since 2017, MHAIA has been the foremost benefactor of FFM, and has had a significant impact on the cause. With MHAIA’s support, FFM has:

• Planted 1.4 million trees
• Reforestation efforts in 3,150 acres across 66 communities in Michoacán

Learn more about the efforts by MHAIA to reforest Michoacán and save the monarch butterfly here.