A U.S.-Mexico border closure could be bad news for avocado lovers.
The United States could deplete its supply of avocados in just three weeks in the event of a border shut down, The Guardian reported.
“Mexico supplies virtually 100% of the avocados in the U.S. right now,” Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, told the outlet. “California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but they’re not relevant right now and won’t be for another month or so,” he added.
The shortage would inevitably cause prices to skyrocket for consumers, noted Monica Ganley, principal at Quarterra, a Latin American agricultural consultancy.
“We’re absolutely going to see higher prices,” Ganley told The Guardian. “This is a very real and very relevant concern for American consumers.”
Avocados aren’t the only fruit that would take a hit. Mexico is also responsible for a large portion of imported produce in the U.S., with nearly half the country’s imported vegetables and 40 percent of American fruit grown in Mexican soil.
Mexican imports have increased dramatically in recent years, nearly tripling since 1999, reported The Guardian. In the event of a border closure, the U.S. would also suffer from a decline in imported tomatoes, cucumbers, blackberries and raspberries, all of which are heavily supplied by Mexico.
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