If there's one thing we know about ourselves—and most Angelenos—it's that we have a deep, deep love of avocados. We put them on our toast, in our salads, on our burgers, in our burritos, and sometimes even make them the main event, eating a half with just a little salt or hot sauce and a fork. So you can imagine how we're feeling today learning that this already dismal year for avocados is getting even worse.
According to produce company Ingardia Bros., there has been a shortage of avocados all year, but it's currently hit a peak, with prices soaring to $76 a case—the highest price the company has seen in more than 30 years. Ingardia's produce buyer Cruz Sandavol told the Orange County Register that the shortage is "very, very critical right now."
You know what else is critical? Our blood pressure, because we can't handle a life with no avocados and we're not sure our wallets can handle these continued price increases. According to the Hass Avocado Board, the average price of a single retail avocado has gone up 20 cents this year. And if the shortage is only getting worse, we imagine that price could increase quickly. So how can we fix this? Well, California's shortage (likely due to the continued drought), has put demand on Mexico, which is playing that whole supply-and-demand game and raising their prices. If we want to continue our avocado addictions, we should do our part to conserve water—and maybe add a rain dance to our morning routine this winter.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.
