San Ángel Zurumucapio, Mexico — Rising demand for avocados transformed the landscape of western Mexico, bringing wealth to many. Yet, for the García family, it also introduced fear and insecurity.
Óscar García, only 18, navigates the challenges of maintaining his family’s farm amidst growing threats. The once peaceful San Ángel Zurumucapio, a town with P’urhépecha indigenous roots, now faces the presence of paramilitary groups and violence spurred by the avocado industry boom.
The Impact of Avocados
In the past, the area was a remote expanse of forests. Francisco, Óscar’s grandfather, remembers traversing it on horseback. The introduction of avocados changed this. Francisco’s journey to Texas enabled him to provide for his family back home. His son Pancho, following a similar path, returned to Mexico to plant avocados, leveraging new opportunities spurred by the North American Free Trade Agreement’s removal of a U.S. avocado import ban.
The avocado trade lifted families like the García’s from poverty. However, the environmental impact was significant. Massive deforestation for orchards altered local climates and created further challenges.
Crime Infiltration and Community Response
Criminal elements soon infiltrated the avocado trade, expanding their illegal activities from drugs to controlling farmland and extracting protection money. Fear was rampant in San Ángel. Pancho remained unarmed, despite the risks, sharing a belief with his father that exacerbating tension could result in more violence.
Community frustrations led to drastic measures. In 2021, residents adopted self-governance to manage insecurity. The town erected barricades and locals, including Óscar, stood guard at community entries to thwart criminal attempts.
Pancho’s Disappearance
In December 2024, tragedy struck. Pancho went missing from his orchard, prompting a mass search effort involving the local militia and national authorities. However, leads were scant and the state investigation reached a dead end.
The family suspects a flawed kidnapping led to Pancho’s fate but fears retaliation obstructs further pursuit. Francisco urged a halt to the search, prioritizing the safety of his remaining family members.
Legacy of Loss and Resilience
The García family’s experience embodies the dual nature of the avocado boom — bringing both economic uplift and peril. Óscar, now managing the farm, grapples with the aftermath of his father’s disappearance. Francisco and his wife quietly hope for Pancho’s return but face the existing reality: avocados brought prosperity yet sowed seeds of turmoil.
As Óscar continues his duties, San Ángel Zurumucapio stands as a testament to a community striving for security amid external threats. The broader consequences of agricultural success, the García’s story prompts reflection on the true cost of economic prosperity.