Home Business Avocados are stuck in Mexico, but their prices in U.S. are headed north

Avocados are stuck in Mexico, but their prices in U.S. are headed north

by sanmigueltimes
0 comments

In 2014 the U.S. had the Great Lime Shortage. Is 2016 gearing up to be the year of the Great Avocado Shortage?

The causes are similar: A fruit grown in Mexico is not making its way north. While deeply embedded in California’s food identity — and a major crop here — most U.S. avocados are imported from Mexico.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Mexican growers are withholding fruit as they try to negotiate higher payment from packers, and now the wholesale avocado price is two to four times higher than usual. As the primary U.S. supplier this time of year, after California’s season has ended and not much is coming out of Chile or Peru, the growers in Mexico have leverage.

Avocados await shipment in a warehouse. (PHOTO: chronicle.com)

Avocados await shipment in a warehouse. (PHOTO: chronicle.com)

“Right now, it’s one or two countries supplying the world with avocados,” said Dimitri Vardakastanis, co-owner of three San Francisco grocery stores, including Gus’s Market. Vardakastanis has noticed sharp price increases over the past three months, and is now selling avocados for $1.99 each, $2.99 for organic.

Last year at this time, the United States imported 45 million pounds of avocados weekly from Mexico, but it imported only 13 million pounds last week, according to the Hass Avocado Board. That’s after a somewhat difficult California harvest, which runs spring through summer, with a little bit in fall. The state’s avocado farms struggled with drought-weakened trees that produced less and smaller fruit than usual, said Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado Co., a grower and importer in Escondido (San Diego County).

To read complete article click here.

Source: sfgate.com

You may also like

Our Company

News website that serves the English-speaking community in San Miguel with information and advertising services that exceed their expectations.

Newsletter

Laest News

@2024 All Right Reserved by San Miguel Times

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept