More than 1,000 growers and industry leaders attended the seventh annual Jalisco Avocado Congress in Ciudad Guzman, Mexico, in late August, and grower Grupo Los Cerritos once again received an award for its sustainability efforts.
The event, hosted by the Jalisco Avocado Grower and Exporter Association (Apeajal), had a special focus on sustainability this year, according to a news release. The following growers received first-place honors (by category):
- Small growers: Huerta Oasis.
- Medium growers: Huertas Carmelita
- Large growers: Grupo Los Cerritos.
Grupo Los Cerritos represents 1,300 hectares of hass avocado production, 40% of which has been developed in the last three to four years, the release said.
“My vision has always been to do things differently than the rest of the industry,” Saul Medina, president of Cerritos, said in the release. “At Grupo Los Cerritos we implemented a culture of sustainability, both within the company as well as how we approach the rest of society. Cerritos strives to strike a balance within the natural resources where we work and treat coworkers with respect. Sustainability is an official part of our vision.”
The release said some of the farming practices that helped Cerritos win the award for the fourth time include:
- GlobalGAP audits and certificates at the farms.
- Rainforest Alliance audits and certificates at the farms.
- GlobalGAP Risk Assessment on Social Practice (GRASP) audits regarding social practices within agricultural operations.
- A focus on productivity per acre.
- Reforestation efforts within and outside the farms including wildlife corridors.
Apeajal President Eleazar Oceguera said in the release that the 10-year anniversary of the organization coincided with the one-year anniversary of access to the U.S. market for Jalisco avocados.
At the event, Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Victor Manuel Villalobos noted the role that Jalisco plays in supporting Mexico’s unrivaled dominance in global avocado production and exports. With nearly 700 million pounds of production, Jalisco represents just over 12% of Mexico’s total avocado production, according to the release.
More on these topics: Sustainability | Avocados | Mexico
