Avocado sells up to 100 pesos per kilo: why did its cost skyrocket

Once again, the price of a product surprised citizens because of the sudden rise that has occurred in recent days. This is the avocado, because it is even being sold for up to 100 pesos in some parts of the country.

And it is that one of the reasons for seeing costs in “the clouds” is due to a further increase of 0.48% of the National Consumer Price Index (INPC). In addition to a report of general annual inflation of 7.29%, according to data from Inegi.

Thus, the products that marked an increase in their prices during the first half of March are: domestic gas LP, low-octane gasoline, electricity, air transport. As well as in foods that are: omelette, egg, onion, avocado, among others.

Why did the cost of avocado skyrocket?

According to figures from the Mexican government, its cost of this succulent green fruit reached its highest level in more than 20 years, due to the shortage of supply and demand within the country.

And the fact is that the production of this product has decreased from the Mexican ranches where it is worked. One of them is the entity of Michoacán, the main producer of food nationwide. It is followed by the State of Mexico, Jalisco, Nayarit and Morelos.

What is the problem?

Less avocado is being generated, as US importers have also reduced the purchase or purchase of the fruit due to threats.

The US government suspended all imports of Mexican avocados after a health inspector from the neighboring country reported that he received a threat at a Mexican plant.

The surprise suspension was confirmed on Saturday night on the eve of the Super Bowl, the biggest sales opportunity of the year for Mexican avocado producers, although it will not affect consumption on match day because they had already shipped them.

According to more recent information, avocado exports have also been affected by territorial clashes between drug cartels and the extortion of avocado producers in the western state of Michoacán, the only entity authorized to export to the US market.

For these reasons, the U.S. government stopped all imports of Mexican avocados “until further notice,” due to an alleged threat, the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

“The US health authority informed the National Service for Health, Safety and Agrifood Quality (Senasica) that it made the determination after one of its officers, who was carrying out the inspection work in Uruapan, Michoacán, received a threatening call to his official cell phone,” the agency confirmed mexican.

Such a ban on imports occurred on the same day that avocado producers and the packers association submitted its announcement for this year's Super Bowl. Since then they have continued with fear and have barely recovered from these threats.

This year's commercial shows the character Roman emperor Julius Caesar and several gladiator fans outside what appears to be the Colosseum and who end their violent differences by enjoying guacamole and avocados.

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