Avocados exported to China carry the mark of La Familia Michoacana founder

Avocados exported from Mexico to China are reportedly bearing the mark of a notorious cartel leader. The "gold green" of Michoacán, as avocados are known, is being cultivated on orchards operated by José de Jesús Méndez Vargas, also known as "El Chango," the founder and former leader of the La Familia Michoacana cartel. He is among Mexico's most-wanted capos and was extradited to the United States last year.

Hundreds of tons of avocados are exported annually to China from orchards El Chango controls in key production municipalities like Uruapan, Tancítaro, Salvador Escalante, Tacámbaro, and Ario de Rosales. These operations are reportedly conducted legally, with El Chango and another former cartel operator, Manuel Fernández Valencia, known as "La Puerca," having secured exporter status under agreements made during the previous presidential administration.

Intelligence reports indicate that El Chango Méndez and La Puerca jointly own over 50 avocado orchards across these five municipalities. These properties are registered with the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) and have held permits for foreign sales since February 2020. This newspaper verified these registrations against databases from the National Service of Agrifood Health, Safety, and Quality (Senasica), confirming the orchards' inclusion in the list of registered avocado farms for export to China.

The orchards, some named "La Mora 1," "La Mora 36," and "La Mora 37," are located in Tancítaro, considered the heart of Michoacán's avocado region. Collectively, these properties span approximately 500 hectares and produce a significant volume of avocados destined for the Chinese market. This situation raises questions about the influence of organized crime in legitimate agricultural export businesses.