Trump’s Threat To Close Border Could Cause Avocado Shortage
Analysts are looking at how President Donald Trump’s threats to close the border could possibly impact the American food supply. The United States Department of Agriculture recent data suggests that 40 percent of imported fruits and half of the imported fruits in America are grown in Mexico.
Should the border indeed close next week, one of the most imminent problems consumers would face would be an avocado shortage.
The president of Mission Produce, Steve Barnard, states that his company is the largest grower and distributor of avocados in the world. Barnard told Reuters since Mexico supplies the most avocados sold in the US and that closing the border would result in a low supply of avocadoes in as little as three weeks.
The U.S. imports about $137 billion in food through the border with Mexico, 90 percent of which are imported avocados purchased by American consumers.
But should the border actually close; it doesn’t mean that consumers won’t be able to find the green fruit at a grocery store or street vendor.
A majority of US consumers also get avocadoes from California, Peru, and Florida. Many think that the US can have a steady supply of avocadoes in California, though the season just started and the avocadoes wouldn’t be ready until another month.
By: Maytinee Kramer
