Mexico finds illegal avocado plantation in Monarch reserve
Ramon Paz
Ramon Paz   the spokesman for Mexico's Association of Avocado Export Packers and Producers  said almost all avocados are grown on land that was not deforested to make way for plantations.
" We  have been accused a lot of deforestation  but according to the information  we  have ... between 85 and 90 percent of the area planted with avocado trees was previously occupied for other agricultural uses "  Paz  said.
"The vast majority of avocado orchards have been in agricultural use for many years"  Paz  said  adding they were usually corn fields.
 Paz  said  his  group  known as APEAM  was concerned about conserving forests  noting "we don't want our product to be perceived as one that results from deforestation."
 Paz  said the APEAM is working on getting its avocados certified as sustainable  and embarked four years ago on a project to plant about 250 000 pine seedlings annually.
 Paz  said 80 percent of the state's 23 000 avocado producers had plots of 12 acres (5 hectares) or less.
"We're talking about 100 000 families in Michoacan who have found a way to earn a dignified living  who no longer have to emigrate  who no longer live in poverty and are less susceptible to being recruited by organized crime "  Paz  said.
[TGT]   the spokesman for Mexico's Association of Avocado Export Packers and Producers  said almost all avocados are grown on land that was not deforested to make way for plantations.
" We  have been accused a lot of deforestation  but according to the information  we  have ... between 85 and 90 percent of the area planted with avocado trees was previously occupied for other agricultural uses "  Paz  said.
"The vast majority of avocado orchards have been in agricultural use for many years"  Paz  said  adding they were usually corn fields.
 Paz  said  his  group  known as APEAM  was concerned about conserving forests  noting "we don't want our product to be perceived as one that results from deforestation."
 Paz  said the APEAM is working on getting its avocados certified as sustainable  and embarked four years ago on a project to plant about 250 000 pine seedlings annually.
 Paz  said 80 percent of the state's 23 000 avocado producers had plots of 12 acres (5 hectares) or less.
"We're talking about 100 000 families in Michoacan who have found a way to earn a dignified living  who no longer have to emigrate  who no longer live in poverty and are less susceptible to being recruited by organized crime "  Paz  said.