Not the Avocados!!

Humanitarian, national security, economic crises be damned. Now we’re getting word that a border shutdown, such as the one threatened by President Trump in response to the alarming surge in illegal border crossings and asylum seekers, may create an avocado shortage!?

Per Reuters earlier today:

President Donald Trump’s threat to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border would hit American consumers – in the gut.

From the avocados on avocado toast, to the limes and tequila in margaritas, the United States is heavily reliant on Mexican imports of fruit, vegetables and alcohol to meet consumer demand. Nearly half of all imported U.S. vegetables and 40 percent of imported fruit are grown in Mexico, according to the latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Americans would run out of avocados in three weeks if imports from Mexico were stopped, said Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, the largest distributor and grower of avocados in the world.

As someone who happens to love avocado — and particularly as someone who’s recently been following the Mediterranean Diet in an effort to slim down and eat healthier — the idea of a shortage of this wonder food is anathema. Hummus and tzatziki are nice and all, but I’m not sure I want to live in a world without guac.

Not to mention the prospect of limited lime…AND tequila. (Note to the headline writers at Reuters: I have it on good authority that a lime shortage might spell doom even for “virgin margaritas.”

Hey, nerds? A “virgin margarita” is simply a glass of lime juice. https://t.co/b4Xqmbq8Md

— Brad Slager: aka Wuhan Solo (@MartiniShark) April 1, 2019

I’m quite certain Brad would know!)

Perhaps it’s not time to panic just yet, though. Mexico isn’t the only source of avocados. As Gabriel Malor astutely noted earlier today:

The U.S. produced about 146,310 tons of avocados in 2017. No, the U.S. isn't going to "run out" if Trump shuts the border.

They would get more expensive. Which is what you people retweeting that dumb story deserve. 🥑

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) April 1, 2019