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.
I tried an avocado once years ago.
Can’t figure out what the attraction is.
This isn’t going to affect me in the least.
Been acting avocado my entire life. Use to have an avocado tree in the backyard and have friends who give me the ones they can’t eat.
You are my new friend.
Can I come over?
I have though about growing avacados in my house with an indoor LED grow light. I can imagine a tree loaded with fruit and making lots of guacamole to freeze in quart-size bags. Mmmmm!
Avocados don’t freeze well!!!
its a luxury....why would the strikers want to ruin their market?..we used to just have onion soup mix and chips for a snack....we can do that again...
Guacamole can be frozen if you don’t add the raw tomatoes or onions. These break down and make the guacamole watery. However, the avocado, salt, lime juice and maybe a bit of cilantro, will freeze well and you can add the onion, fresh garlic and tomato later. When filling into the bags, the goal is to get out the air bubbles that are trapped as best you can. Shake the guacamole to the bottom of the bag, then squeeze gently towards the top of the bag. Close the bag nearly closed, and work the guacamole up and toward the bag seal while squeezing out all the residual air. Close up your bag and press flat for easy storage. Incidentally, the lime juice keeps the guacamole from turning brown.
The frozen guacamole will keep in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Thawing in the microwave is a bad idea.
Avocados contain a component called “Persin”, which is poisonous to dogs.
Avocados are grown here in CA. I you’re lucky you have a big Fuerte or Hass tree in your backyard.
Leni
I’ve been eating avocados since an infant [where do you live? I can’t imagine being avocado-less]... and I’m 70. On top of that I have 9 uncles all farmers ... most avocado farmers.
This is the first time I have seen a real serious shortage. My family farmed them in Ventura. CA for generations but they are becoming less available.
And, yes, they have always been a staple.
With salads ...0r by themselves. My farmer nephew dropped off some this weekend. Told me how they have become the rage in Korea and the country has stepped up growing California Avocados, the best.
No Pardons!
This will sound strange, but try them on sliced and roasted sweet potatoes. Yum, like butter.
How very nice to have a nephew who grows them and brings them to his favorite Aunt! :-)
Avacados became "the rage" in the USA sometime in the 1920s; IIRC. It was seen as something very "POSH" and served as an appetizer and/or in a salad and were called ALLIGATOR PEARS.
yes,
I remember the name.
Yes, I just learned I have a nephew and he got into the family biz ... he works at Cal Poly as an agricultural advisor. And Ventura, CA is having a family reunion of the founding fathers [almost all farmers] so we are going to all the events. Lost a good friend in the Malibu fires ... he was a member of the band The Challengers, so we are having a huge “wake” on the beach in Malibu coming up. My nephew and I will go i hope.
Hope all is well.
Teri
I hope that you have a great time at the family reunion!
So sorry to hear that you lost a friend due to those terrible fires! :-(
See your FRmail.
I’m in Upstate NY. Ca has a whole different diet.
Add bottled water and bean sprouts.
Maybe because you’re eating the wrong variety of avocados. Since you’re on the East Coast you may be eating Florida avocados which are often with tough strings, brown spots and unpleasant.
A classic Haas [our classic], or Fuerte or Pinkerton might please you more.
I am lucky to live in CA where my family grows avocados commercially.
We had an aunt, who lived in SoCal, who had a YUGE avocado tree, in her backyard.
It produced big, tasty avocados...and, it was amazing to be able to just walk out the door, pick a few, and come in and make a fresh bowl of guacamole, in a matter of minutes.
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