Jalisco, Mexico - The Ministry of Rural Development of Jalisco (Seder) recently revealed that Jalisco is the second largest exporter of avocados in the country, only surpassed by the State of Michoacan.

The agency reported that Jalisco produces 100,000 tons of avocado per year on 14,976 hectares spread over 37 municipalities. The head of Seder, Hector Gutierrez Padilla, said the avocado production has grown due to the modernization of their crops.

"An orchard in Michoacan has an average density of one hundred trees, while an orchard in Jalisco has 470 trees," he said.

Jalisco expects to have a greater participation in avocado exports as soon U.S. authorities issue a pest-free area declaration for several municipalities. The U.S. is considered the most important market for avocados in the world among the producers of this fruit.

Gutierrez Padilla inaugurated the new packing facility of the Cerritos Group in Zapotlan El Grande. 80 million pesos were invested in the facility, which will create 150 direct jobs. The facility has 5,000 square meters for handling fifty 22-ton containers per week.

The commercial value of Mexican avocados amounts to 20,715 million pesos, 17,452 million of which are contributed by Michoacan and 1,393 million by Jalisco.

The five leading avocado producing municipalities in the state of Jalisco are Zapotlan El Grande, Concepción de Buenos Aires, Tamazula, Tapalpa, and Zapotiltic.