"Arthur"
Posted on 10/23/2016 1:01:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway
The import of avocados from Mexico to the U.S. has decreased by more than half this month, according to the San Diego County Farm Bureau
If you love avocados, you might want to head to your nearest grocery store and grab some before they run out—and this time, the wait might be longer than a few days.
NBC 7 confirmed with the San Diego County Farm Bureau on Friday that there is a massive shortage of avocados in the county and nationwide caused by labor strikes in Mexico.
Growers and pickers in Mexico are having what officials called a “slow down,” or strikes, to affect the price of avocados in the U.S. Workers reported being unhappy with the prices they have been receiving for the fruits. Due to this, shipments coming into the U.S. have decreased, leading to a massive shortage that has been affecting restaurants and stores in the county and the everyday buyer.
Officials told NBC 7 about 40 million pounds of avocados are usually transported from Mexico to the U.S a week. However, two weeks ago, less than half of that amount, about 13 million pounds of the fruit were shipped over across our border.
The strikes are also causing prices to increase.
Juan Carlos Recamier, the head chef and owner of Ceviche House in North Park told NBC 7 the drought has already had an impact on avocado prices, but now it's worse with each case of the fruit costing his business more than $100.
"We have guacamole on our menu and right now it says it’s not available," Recamier said. "It not only impacts mom and pop shops but the industry across the board."
The director of operations at Puesto said they have been paying more than $100 per box of avocados as well. They used to pay $66.
"Guacamole is part of the life blood of this restaurant," Lucien Conner said. "There is not going to be a day in Puesto without guacamole."
Conner said they have been sending employees out to nearby stores and markets to buy any avocados they can find.
NBC 7 also reached out to Henry Avocado Corporation, a year-round local Hass Avocado grower and distributor, and was informed by a supervisor workers were heading home early because they didn't have fruit to move.
As of Friday, several people in the San Diego restaurant industry and an official with the Farm Bureau reported avocado prices dropping. They said that could be an indicator the strike issue is resolving.
No one ate avocados until up to a few years ago. We’ll do fine without them.
Haven’t avacadoes been grown in California and other states, since at least the 1930s and called “alligator pears” and avacado pears?
Many did, in America...just NOT a large portion of the American populace. They were usually eaten with something ( lobster or shrimp salad, chicken salad, or just plain, with a light dressings ) inside the hole that the removed pit left, or as an appetizer.
Many did, in America...just NOT a large portion of the American populace. They were usually eaten with something ( lobster or shrimp salad, chicken salad, or just plain, with a light dressings ) inside the hole that the removed pit left, or as an appetizer.
I find them quite bland. However that can be a good thing as it serves a good base for all kinds of dips and spreads.
Yep, my grandpa had a tree in his back yard in SoCal when I was a kid in the 60s. It was a good 30 feet high, I figure he must have planted it in the 30s along with different oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.
Great on BLTs and club sandwiches.
How lucky you were, to have a grandpa who had such a wonderful variety trees.
try them on the half with crushed s/p and then a Tbs of a good olive oil in the center hole with a couple hard shakes of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce.. a nice scoop of all with each spoonful will change your mind,, if it’s a Florida avocado just put in more since it’s bigger.. it’s delicious you’ll get addicted
I make the best guacamole and love avocado on a Crab Louie. The bad taste about avocados is the cost. The one dollar price for one avocado does not seem right. I’ve been in southern California and people have no trouble growing avocado trees in their yards, packed with avocados. It seems like a simple crop to grow. Having labor problems only encourages more mechanization.
Here in the east, never heard of it until these cooking shows came around and I'm 72.
We have four avocado trees in our back yard. They all produce and we are loaded with guacamole.
In the 90s they were sold in CA for 10/$1. Around 2006 the growers shifted to south of the border with forced shortages to drive the price up. Now they retail for about $1 ea to $3.50 each.
A 25 lb box has between 30-80, 48 say med avg. size.
When I lived in Southern CA I had three variates of avocado trees in my back yard.It pains me to pay a $1.29 each here in NC.
Haven’t avacadoes been grown in California and other states, since at least the 1930s and called “alligator pears” and avacado pears?
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Fallbrook,Ca. calls itself the “Avocado capital of the world.” Guess those growers are happy. Used to spend time there when stationed at Camp Pendleton.
Wait until what the Chinese government will call giving in to “labor unrest” starts jacking up prices on everything we get from China.
When I lived in SoCal many years ago I had one avocado tree in my backyard.
I swear it produced over a hundred avocados.
SoCal has tons of them.
"Arthur"
Holy guacamolee! ...
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