Appetite for Avocados Fuels a Win-Win Between Mexico and the U.S.

Imports of food products are often seen primarily as a threat to domestic producers while the broader economic impacts are ignored. As avocado consumption in the U.S. grows, research has found that imports of avocados from Mexico have had a positive effect on the U.S. economy. In fact, in 2015 every dollar of avocado imports from Mexico generated $2.31 in U.S. output, $1.41 in U.S. GDP, and $0.79 in U.S. labor income. Additionally, 12.3 jobs were generated per $1 million of Mexican avocado imports.

“The National Economic Benefits of Food Imports: The Case of U.S. Imports of Hass Avocados”  Gary W. Williams & Oral Capps, Jr. & Daniel Hanselka, 2017. “The National Economic Benefits of Food Imports: The Case of U.S. Imports of Hass Avocados,” Reports 285241, Texas A&M University, Agribusiness, Food, and Consumer Economics Research Center.