Avocado Nosh Board. All photos courtesy of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association. The price of Hass avocados from Michoacan, the heartland of Mexican production, jumped 34 percent on Tuesday, the biggest one-day gain in a decade. Prices, which probably spiked as importers boosted purchases ahead of any potential border issues, could double or triple if Trump makes good on his threat, said Roland Fumasi, senior analyst at Rabobank.
Mexico is the biggest supplier of the fruit, accounting for 75 percent to 80 percent of U.S. consumption, according to data from the Haas Avocado Board.
A heatwave last year in California delayed the harvest, making the U.S. even more reliant on Mexican supplies. “Because California is late and it’s a small crop, Mexico is accounting for nearly all of our avocados,” Fumasi said.
Avocados feature on almost half of U.S. menus. Once mainly confined to dips and salads, the fruit is now seen as a super-food thanks to its nutritional characteristics. The dark green-colored, bumpy-skinned Hass variety is preferred in guacamole and avocado toast for its rich, creamy flesh. DM