Shortages of avocados are already showing up in the supply chain after a suspension of imports from Mexico just days ago.
Mexico, which accounts for about 80% of the U.S.’s supply, is scrambling to fix the ban. Meanwhile, in the U.S., time is of the essence until supplies run out. The market has 57 million pounds of avocados, which translates to just a week’s worth of inventory, according to Stonehill Produce Chief Executive Officer Keith Slattery, who cited industry figures from the Hass Avocado Board.
“That’ll dry up quickly,” he said, adding that there isn’t enough product from global exporters to make up for the loss of Mexican avocados. Prices are on the rise in parts of the U.S. Avocados in Chicago jumped 15% Tuesday, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Anticipating shortfalls, grocery-store operator and distributor SpartanNash Co. is trying to secure more of the superfruit from California, although they’re up to 30% more expensive than the ones from Mexico. The extra cost will be passed along to customers at the store level.
If the ban “lasts for even a couple weeks or so, it will have a very significant impact on supply and pricing of avocados,” SpartanNash’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Sarsam said in an interview. “We can get more from California but it will not make up for, or anywhere close to, the loss.”
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