Mexico breaks world record with 3-tonne guacamole

Volunteers from a culinary school mix mashed avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

CONCEPCION DE BUENOS AIRES, Mexico (Reuters) - The recipe for a record-breaking guacamole? 25,000 avocados and 1,000 people to mash them.

That is what avocado growers in Mexico's Jalisco state mobilized on Sunday to break the world record for the biggest guacamole, a whopping 3 tonnes (6,600 lbs) of delicious dip made from "green gold."

Avocados are pictured as volunteers from a culinary school attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

The mass mash-up was part entertainment and part politicking, as growers and Mexico make the point that they - and the guacamole loving Americans - have benefited from the North American Free Trade Agreement that is now under threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States were meeting in the Mexican capital this weekend to revamp the 23-year-old NAFTA accord that Trump has threatened to end if he does not get concessions to curb a trade deficit with Mexico.

Some 80 percent of U.S. avocado consumption comes from Mexico's growing expanse of orchards. Jalisco has become the second biggest producer of the Hass variety in Mexico behind Michoacan state, according to producers.

Volunteers from a culinary school mix mashed avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

More than 600 student chefs and 400 people from the rural town of Concepcion de Buenos Aires prepared the traditional dish for thousands people, many of whom came from the Jalisco state capital of Guadalajara.

The state's governor was on hand to receive recognition from a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records.

U.S. negotiators have said they want to include provisions to make it easier for U.S. seasonal produce growers to be able to file anti-dumping cases against Mexico.

Women take pictures of a massive bowl of the new Guinness World Record largest serving of guacamole, in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

That idea has been criticized by U.S. restaurants and retailers, who say it would drive up prices.

Mexican growers of the fruit say U.S. production of avocado could not meet demand.

"The imports of avocados from Mexico have not cost one single job to the domestic industry [in the United States]," said Ramon Paz, the spokesman for Michoacan's growers.

A volunteer from a culinary school carries a bowl of guacamole as he attempts with others to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

(Additional reporting by Adriana Barrera in Mexico City; Editing by Mary Milliken)

Volunteers from a culinary school mix mashed avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school mash avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school mash avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school work to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school cut avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school cut avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza

Volunteers from a culinary school cut avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico September 3, 2017. REUTERS/Fernando Carranza