Organic Consumers Association, with Richman Law & Policy, sue West Pak Avocado
and Fresh Del Monte Produce Over Misleading "Sustainable" and
"Responsibly Sourced" Marketing Claims that Obscure Illegal
Deforestation
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Organic Consumers Association and
Richman Law & Policy filed
separate complaints against West Pak Avocado and Fresh Del Monte
Produce on August 2, 2024, in the
District of Columbia Superior Court. The complaints
alleges that both
avocado importers, in violation of the District of Columbia
Consumer Protection Procedures Act, deceptively market their
avocados as "sustainable" and "responsibly sourced" when they are
in reality driving deforestation in the Mexican states of Michoacán
and Jalisco, where all Mexican
avocados sold in the United States
originate.
One of the orchards where Del Monte sourced
avocados in 2022 was covered with native forest in 2011, while West
Pak sourced avocados in 2022 from an orchard that was covered with
native forest in 2015.
West Pak Avocado, the complaint alleges, misleads consumers by claiming that it is
"committed to growing avocados without forest clearing," and that
its mission is to bring "sustainably, and responsibly sourced
avocados to consumers."
West Pak claims to be the "trusted leader in avocados," and
represents on its website that it "work[s] hard to ensure [its]
avocados are, grown, processed, and delivered safely, fairly, and
responsibly . . . [and its] respect for people and nature enables
[the] company to grow and prosper over the long term in harmony
with the needs of communities and ecosystems."
Del Monte attests that its products, including its avocados, are
sourced responsibly and sustainably and that its growers "implement
the best practices that protect the environment."
Del Monte says on its website that "sustainability isn't just a
word, it's woven into every fiber of our business" and that its
"business is built on agriculture and ecosystems thriving
together."
Despite these claims, Mexican government shipping records and
satellite imagery indicate that West Pak and Del Monte each source
avocados from multiple orchards grown on deforested land in
Michoacán. For example, satellite imagery included in the
complaints illustrate that one of the orchards where Del Monte
sourced avocados in 2022 was covered with native forest in 2011,
while West Pak sourced avocados in 2022 from an orchard that was
covered with native forest in 2015.
Avocado orchards accounted for about one-fifth of the
deforestation in Michoacán and neighboring Jalisco between 2001 and 2017. This
deforestation impacts the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Pine-Oak
Forests ecoregion. Most famous for being the winter nesting grounds
of the monarch butterfly, it is also home to rare birds, amphibians
and reptiles, as well as 50 percent of Mexico's unique mammal species.
Intense water use by avocado orchards deprives local residents
of water and hurts small-scale family farmers growing food for
their communities (not for export, as with West Pak and Del
Monte).
In February of this year, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar
expressed concern about the proliferation of avocado orchards on
illegally deforested land during a visit to Michoacán, stating that
Mexican avocado exporters "shouldn't have the opportunity to sell
those avocados to the United
States market."
Whether legal or illegal, the conversion of natural forests to
avocado plantations for West Pak and Del Monte releases greenhouse
gasses, reduces carbon storage, threatens biodiversity and drains
aquifers. Marketing these avocados as "sustainable" and
"responsibly sourced" is misleading.
Organic Consumers Association and Richman Law & Policy are fighting to end
this type of deceptive marketing directed at D.C. consumers.
West Pak and Del Monte's avocados
are sold throughout the country including in Washington, D.C.
To view the complaint against West Pak, follow this link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_R0UNfRNz3N_n35BiXIeE3RTWAi_PbkU/view
The Del Monte complaint can be seen here.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKjSR8n2u5nfJrGSwStOkOpDZpZEOP5i/view
ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION
Organic Consumers Association is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3)
advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, and Finland, MN. OCA
addresses crucial issues around food safety, industrial
agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate
accountability, Fair Trade and environmental sustainability. OCA
reaches more than two million people each week via email and social
media.
ABOUT RICHMAN LAW &
POLICY
Richman Law & Policy is the
leading law firm representing consumers and nonprofit organizations
in legal advocacy challenging deceptive marketing claims regarding
the "greenwashing" and "humanewashing" of animal products. Using
consumer protection statutes and other legal tools, Richman Law & Policy has successfully
brought numerous actions against companies and operations that
deceive consumers about their alleged sustainability and animal care
practices.
Media Contact
Ercilia Sahores, Organic Consumers Association, 218-226-4164,
ercilia@organicconsumers.org, https://organicconsumers.org/
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SOURCE Organic Consumers Association