México City.- Marko Cortés, president of the PAN political mexican party, owns two ranches in Jalisco dedicated to avocado production. These ranches were certified by Senasica in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, he possesses two water concessions.

Marko Antonio Cortés Mendoza, leader of the PAN, has two ranches in San Gabriel and Amacueca, Jalisco, dedicated to growing avocados. Both properties received certification from the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agro-Food Quality (Senasica) in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Moreover, Cortés owns two water concessions, allowing him to use 182,000 cubic meters of water, granted by the National Water Commission (Conagua), which are used to irrigate his agricultural lands.

Ranch Details

The first ranch, named Rancho el Veladero IV, specializes in avocado cultivation and is located in San Gabriel, at Kilometer 19 of the Sayula – San Gabriel S/N Apango Highway. This production unit covers an area of 24.4 hectares.

The second ranch, called Rancho Las Pilas, is situated on the Camino Viejo to Amacueca and has an area of 45.78 hectares. In total, Marko Cortés owns 70 hectares dedicated to avocado cultivation in Jalisco.

Water Concessions

Cortés Mendoza holds two water concessions registered with Conagua. The first concession, identified as 841344, was granted on October 21, 2021, and allows him to use 50,000 cubic meters of water for agricultural purposes, specifically for avocado production.

The second concession, coded 16AMDA16, was granted in September 2016 and permits the use of 132,000 cubic meters of water annually.

Environmental Issues in Jalisco’s Avocado Orchards

The expansion of avocado orchards in Jalisco has been significant. In 2010, the area cultivated with avocados was just over 8,400 hectares, but by 2021, this figure had tripled to 27,779 hectares, according to data from the Agro-Food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP).

However, studies conducted by environmental authorities in Jalisco suggest that the area occupied by avocado orchards is more than double the reported figure. The municipalities in southern Jalisco have seen a considerable increase in avocado cultivation area over the past decade.

Impact on San Gabriel

San Gabriel was one of the most affected municipalities by the expansion of avocado crops. In 2019, the Salsipuedes River overflowed, causing a logslide that resulted in significant material damage, the deaths of two people, and the disappearance of five others.

It is in this region where Marko Cortés has developed his business as an avocado producer.