WEBVTT

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Much of the food we eat
goes through a pretty incredible journey

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to get to us.

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This is especially true of avocados.

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They don't grow just anywhere.

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They need tons of sunlight
and a ton of rain,

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which is why about 3/4 
of the world's avocados

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come from Mexico.

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Mostly from the state of Michoacan.

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Americans are eating
about three times more avocados

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than they did almost 20 years ago.

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Higher demand is good for Michoacan,

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but when a region booms,

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forces often much shadier, 
aim to get in on the action.

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And trust me,

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that's part of your food's journey too.

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CHAIN REACTION

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<i>Avocados are big business in Mexico.</i>

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<i>The state of Michoacan exports
the majority of them</i>

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<i>to the tune of almost 
3 billion dollars a year.</i>

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I'm someone that really enjoys avocados.

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The people here live off the avocado.

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<i>Locals call it green gold.</i>

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<i>Over the past 20 years, 
America's obsession with avocado</i>

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<i>has driven industry profits and
lifted many people here out of poverty.</i>

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Last year, the United States imported 
a record-breaking 2.1 billion pounds of the fruit
from Mexico.

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Another redness the is
that I'm not surprised

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these days - green gold comes at a price

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criminal organizations like the
Cartel De Jalisco and last few agra's

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have set their sights on the fruit as a
way to diversify. Their illicit portfolios

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by extorting Growers and steel.

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Land,

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we're heading up to meet up with a group
of people who have organized to defend

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this land. Defend this area from
cartels, and criminal groups.

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And we're coming up to their checkpoint.

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Can see a guy standing out here
with an M4 rifle. Sniper up there.

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You're going to see people like this all
over town trying to protect this community.

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I mean, is it those?

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Made it all ready. To--.

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The prevention

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is the commander of a local defense
group that rose up against the Knights,

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Templar cartel.

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When it tried to take over large swaths of
Mitchell cons. Avocado, orchards in 2013.

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In his element and Stephanie muskaan
machetes, compiles, computers,

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romulo successful.

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Not only in the entrance is
a bonus track for defense.

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The other weapons comes in
poke two different things.

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Cheering welcome, boys.

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Avila said soon, as in this case here, in
Houston, little mascara Central Awards.

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Last year taught on his men
found themselves in a firefight

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with members of the Cartel De Jalisco
the shootout, lasted close to an hour,

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the cartel, gunmen eventually retreated,

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but not before taught on his men
captured. One of their wounded.

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Went out on his team, head out on patrol.

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It's people like for Healy
Augustine Serano, local farmer.

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Turn Tower guard, who mans the
checkpoints but I'm awake connect.

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Not often. Do we rabbit?

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So romantic on the Wind
of Gringo's are eternal.

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What kind of attention did the avocado
industry bring to this community?

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It almost from well below

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the government. Regalo para
la parte de la production.

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We do. He saw the sorrow.

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So these avocados ready to cut?
There's a star listo, Para cortar.

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Ha of land produces roughly
20 tons of avocados,

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and at 40 pesos of Papua Farm, like,

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for Helios can rake in some
23,000 dollars per Harvest.

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There's a lot of people in
the US that love these things,

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but I don't think they realize
what all of Michoacan goes through

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to not only Harvest
them but to keep you in

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the community safe from the
cartels and criminal groups.

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What's your message to them? To
remember when they eat an avocado?

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Like what got the Cuesta? Mucho trabajo?

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No, mas

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trabajo. She know Questa

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organization Cuesta de Sangre in
algunos De vidas en algunos casos.

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North American West robotic.

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Consume an avocado.

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When's the last time you
actually got to enjoy one,

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all you want on my animal communicator?

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So definitely be the freshest piece
of avocado I've ever eaten. Cheers.

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It's good.

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It's very good. Yeah.

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Yeah, what up? Don't know if I should do
this whole thing though, I'm allergic.

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For you personally. What are you
protecting me? And I open another meant to

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protect me familiar.

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Are you afraid that things will
go back to the way they were

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when they occur Jaeger status
koshwal esperamos, que, no, Pare.