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When I was young, my family lived in Los Angeles. There are some not so good things about living in Southern California (smog and the distinct absence of seasons were my pet peeves), but there are a number of amazing things, including the fact that avocados often grow abundantly in backyards and sell in farmers markets for cheap. My parents' had a friend who had one those magical backyard avocado trees and during the season, he would often drop by with a grocery bag full of avocados.
These days, I pay dearly for my avocadoes, typically between $1 or $2 a piece. Come this spring, I'll be paying even higher prices as California avocado farmers are expecting one of the smallest harvests in 20 years in 2009. This shortfall is due to the fact that the weather was unusually warm last June, the very worst time of year for a hot spell when it comes to avocados.
Luckily, this shortage doesn't mean that it will be impossible to find the key ingredient in guacamole. It just means that you may need to use the creamy green fruit a bit more sparingly than in years past.
[via YumSugar]
1-07-2009 @2:08PM Barry said... This bums me out. I remember growing up in semi-rural part of San Diego and seeing kids sell them (huge ones) 10 for $1 on the side of the road. Oh well.
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1-11-2009 @2:32PM Don said... I have not been buying any avocados anyway--because all the avocados ,tomatoes,and other produce are from Mexico---and I refuse to buy any produce from Mexico because from what I have read and heard --Mexico uses sewer water in many places to water the crops. My local supermarket hates to see me coming because every time I am there I chastise them about not providing produce grown in the USA.I know that the USA grows tomatoes and avocados ---but it seems impossible to get them where I live. So--I just do without !!!
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1-11-2009 @3:36PM Chef Alfred said... I'm growing avocados in Florida.
I need more acreage if people want more.
Send some money, & I'll plant more ...
alfredschrader@aol.com
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1-11-2009 @3:41PM Louise said... HOW THE HECK DID THIS ARTICLE GO FROM AVACADOS TO OBAMA? LOL............... BET YOU OBAMA WILL GET ALL THE AVACADOS HE AND HIS FAMILY WANT. NOW THAT FITS THIS TOPIC.
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1-12-2009 @2:03PM David Putney said... How could anyone blame Obama for a shortage of avacados,crash of the stock market, poor mortgages?
Maybe the war in Iraq. Poor thinking.
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1-11-2009 @4:48PM onegoode said... Don't you know its George Bush's fault
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1-11-2009 @4:50PM gonzo said... hey don do what i do every spring i plant my own produce in the back yard, i've had to chase the mexicans in my neighborhood out of my garden , but they finally got the message.
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1-11-2009 @6:23PM tigerlili2525 said... Hey, I don't care where avocados are grown; They're one of the anti-cancer foods and that's all that matters.
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1-11-2009 @6:23PM Republiker said... I think it was Dick Cheney hurting the trees. I saw him in the area while he was towing his global warming machine around behind his pick-up. I bet Bush told him to do it! It makes me want to throw a shoe at him.
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1-11-2009 @6:32PM John said... Onegoode, I'm serious. Please give us some specifics. What did Bush do to raise the price of Avocados? I don't want thoughts or theories. I want facts. Facts that can be verified. If you are unable to provide any, then please stop posting this moronic nonsense. Are you lonely?
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1-11-2009 @7:28PM candylir said... Distributors can buy avocados from Puerto Rico. Guarantee they are much bigger, cremier, and more buttery than CA avocado. And so many varieties. We have plenty on season every year.
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1-11-2009 @7:56PM Cool Cook Curtis said... I got this hilarious cookbook called "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com) has some great recipes and is totaly hilarious!
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1-11-2009 @9:26PM Dale said... As a farmer in New England, I can understand your dissapointment with the Avocado situation. Farmers market patrons everywhere truly live with the celebration of good harvests and feel the pain of poor ones- right along with us. We are thankful that people see us through good times and bad as they purchase safe food for their families and help us preserve open space with sustainable practices.
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1-12-2009 @9:12PM Chef Mike said... I bought avocados for years in my commercial Kitchen but the inconsistancy in product has forced me to purchase pitted and peeled vacuum sealed avocados! The product or course is not as good as fresh but they are consistant and when used in a recipe none are the wiser!!!! good eats to all
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1-13-2009 @1:33AM Glady said... Can I grow and Avocado tree in my home? Or in a hot house? When I was young, and in adulthood, I hated Avocados. But when I tasted them in the Caribbean, I was amazed how tasty they really were. But the ones I bought in the Northeast foodmarkets were tasteless and waxy.
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1-13-2009 @3:59AM Maggie said... Don, if you're worried about the water that is used in Mexico to water produce you should be doubly scared of produce from China (often found in Chinatown and in grocery stores usually selling for dirt cheap prices). Produce in China is often watered with heavy water (aka radioactive), most times the radiation levels are low enough for our governments (US & Canada) to allow these products in, but really is there any safe level of radiation? If you don't believe me look up the state of the Yangtze and the Hwang Ho, citizens can't put their skin in the water without coming out with burns, rashes or infections and this is what they water our food with. This was all documented in a Canadian documentery which aired on the CBC about a year and a half ago.
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