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Avocado inspectors attacked, could lead to shortage in California
San Francisco Chronicle / SFGate.com ^ | June 21, 2024 | By Ariana Bindman, News Features Reporter

Posted on 06/21/2024 7:13:28 PM PDT by thecodont

Be patient with your bag of unripened avocados, because they might become more difficult to find in grocery stores pretty soon.

According to a translated June 18 news release from U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar, two United States Department of Agriculture employees were attacked and detained while inspecting avocados in Michoacán, “the world’s leading producer” of the coveted fruit.

Though the inspectors have since been released, the department is halting avocado and mango inspections in the region as a safety measure. USDA press representatives told SFGATE via email that operations have been paused “until further notice.”

Salazar wrote that avocados will still be exported to the U.S. from other Mexican states, and that this pause will not affect produce currently in transit. Regardless, Daniel Sumner, a professor of agricultural and resource economics at UC Davis, said that fewer avocados overall could result in higher prices soon.

“The typical market response to a drop in imports would be for prices to rise to ration what little production is available to buyers who are willing to pay very high prices,” he told SFGATE via email. Overall, he anticipates that avocados will become more expensive if the disruption lasts longer than a week.

Mounting evidence also suggests that this could happen again, too.

While Michoacán Gov. Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla reportedly told Mexico’s Radio Formula that the USDA inspectors were never attacked or detained, plenty of reports point to the dangers of harvesting the lucrative fruit. For years now, news outlets have documented the corruption and violence that surrounds avocados, which have been dubbed the “green gold of Mexico.”

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Mexico
KEYWORDS: attack; avocado; crime; food; mexico
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1 posted on 06/21/2024 7:13:28 PM PDT by thecodont
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Related:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4244298/posts


2 posted on 06/21/2024 7:14:12 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: thecodont

Avocados are toast?


3 posted on 06/21/2024 7:15:02 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: thecodont

Thank goodness avocados aren’t a necessity unless you need them for your restaurant or beauty product.


4 posted on 06/21/2024 7:20:09 PM PDT by Savage Rider
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To: Paladin2

Holy guacamole!


5 posted on 06/21/2024 7:22:32 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (23 years on Free Republic, 12/10/23! More than 8,000 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: j.havenfarm

+1


6 posted on 06/21/2024 7:23:42 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: thecodont
For years now, news outlets have documented the corruption and violence that surrounds avocados

Bad seeds!


7 posted on 06/21/2024 7:24:57 PM PDT by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". 🔴 Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with MARS ♂️, aka every man)
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To: thecodont

Gringos attacked in old Mexico. What a surprise!

Anyway, I think I’m going to take “avocado inspector” off my list of jobs to apply for.


8 posted on 06/21/2024 7:26:28 PM PDT by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
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To: thecodont
..... Yikes ..... Luckily I grow plenty of my own ...... Otherwise ..... OUCH!!!! ....... I Pitty the Fooo's ,,,,,

.

9 posted on 06/21/2024 7:27:06 PM PDT by R_Kangel ("A nation of sheep will beget a nation ruled by wolves")
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To: thecodont

The cartels took control of lime and lime juice a couple of years ago. Limes are 5 to 10 times higher, and this happened before inflation hit.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mexican-drug-cartels-caused-rapid-increase-lime-prices-putting-squeeze-bars-cinco-de-mayo-rp

PBS (2014): “ How Mexican drug cartels have caused a rapid increase in lime prices, putting a squeeze on bars for Cinco de Mayo”


10 posted on 06/21/2024 7:31:27 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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To: VanShuyten

Drug cartels are behind all of it.

Even the little illegal alien fruit stands that appear now and then in the neighborhood have a drug cartel behind them. It’s a bad sign, like broken windows in an unguarded building.


11 posted on 06/21/2024 7:33:31 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: thecodont

The cartels run that business. They need a massive pimp slap, shut them down from all exports.


12 posted on 06/21/2024 7:38:22 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
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To: thecodont

Coming to a texmex cafe soon - The Great Guacamole Riots of 2024


13 posted on 06/21/2024 7:38:56 PM PDT by llevrok (“In a time of deceit telling, the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell)
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To: thecodont

If only avocados and limes were still grown in America. If only Cali did not steal water from farmers who used to farm in Cali.

If I had some ham, I could make a ham and cheese sandwich, if I had some cheese.


14 posted on 06/21/2024 7:40:38 PM PDT by jimtorr
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To: thecodont

In the US Ag Inspectors would have AK’s with them. I guess Mexico doesn’t put up with that crap.


15 posted on 06/21/2024 7:45:39 PM PDT by BobL
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To: R_Kangel; Diana in Wisconsin

“avocados”

Can one grow them in Wisc. [even “indoors”]?

*******

Profit!


16 posted on 06/21/2024 7:48:34 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: jimtorr

“I could make a ham and cheese sandwich”

You could then indict Trump!


17 posted on 06/21/2024 7:49:38 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: thecodont

Oh no!!! Come on guys. This is such a 1st world problem.


18 posted on 06/21/2024 7:52:45 PM PDT by Mercat
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To: thecodont

We have USDA inspectors running around Cartel country inspecting avocados? Are they crazy?


19 posted on 06/21/2024 7:56:20 PM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Mercat; All

Avocados and avocado oil are great items for KETO/low carb...(ditch the seed oils). Coconut oil & EVOO good too.

So sort of a “2nd world” issue if looking out for health. ;-)


20 posted on 06/21/2024 8:01:35 PM PDT by Drago
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