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.
There are other places in Central America that produce Avacados. We learned to like Avacados from good friend of my wife who was born in Costa Rica.
Some stupid MX worker strike is not the end of the world.
I have lots of dip recipes that don’t require them. (I do like avacados)
I bought small avacados last week 4 for $1.00.
The price has been up and down lately, but because MX has a farm worker strike will not destroy the US economy.
It is an inconvenience for restaurants, I admit.
Most overrated food item in history. Bland and greasy. If only this brings an end to the Mexican food craze and restores sanity to the nation, it will be a good thing as Martha says. Might end the career of Aron Sanchez too, which is another good thing.
Agriculture has some strange ways of paying for labor. Some is completely market oriented, some is very centralized.
Avocados are a weekly grocery item in my house. Since the peels and pits get tossed into the compost bin, its not unusual to find a few of the pits with sprouts. Unfortunately the Michigan winters aren’t avocado-friendly.
We too. Except one tree is in the front yard. Three in the back yard.
Not clear to me why anyone eats avocados. If they disappeared I would not even notice.
The very least of my worries.
Nothing happened for about a month, then they sprouted. Got about three feet high, with leaves as big as my hands, then they suddenly died. Don't know why.
I have a Ghost Pepper plant growing in that bucket now.
Avocados are only good for a good tangy guacamole dip - otherwise, they’re “the pits”...
After Hurricane Katrina came thru South Florida in ‘05, there were so many avocados knocked off the trees that they were selling them for 4 for $1. I bought a bunch of course. BTW, there are the LARGE avocados, not the puny California Haas avocados.
Does the avocado business in mexico really rely on Mexicans picking them? Maybe they should advertise and get some of their deserters back from the US to increase the labor pool and do the jobs Mexicans won't do...
GROWING AVOCADOS INDOORS IN HARSH CLIMATES
http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/2009/0218/harvest-avocados-indoors
“Haven’t avacadoes been grown in California and other states, since at least the 1930s...”
Unfortunately the trees require WATER - the same water now dedicated to some bait-fish in Northern California.
I hardly ever buy them because they’re never less than $1.50 at my store.
Growers and pickers in Mexico
Avocados have been popular in Southern CA for as long as I can remember. I moved to San Diego in 1952.
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