US halts avocado imports from Mexico after threat to American inspector

Decision comes after threatening phone message and disrupts $2.4bn industry during one of its busiest times of the year

Threats to an American agricultural inspector in the Mexican state of Michoacan caused the US to suspend imports of avocados from its neighbor, officials said, disrupting a $2.4bn industry during one of its busiest times of the year.

Mexico's department of agriculture said in a statement that the inspector received a threatening message on his cellphone, prompting the ban on avocado exports to the US until further notice."