Not long ago, maybe only three years, I made a late afternoon run to one of my favorite taco shops and was shocked.
Taped to the drive thru menu was a note: No avocados, no guacamole. Sorry.
The cashier told me they were having a hard time sourcing the green luscious fruits that made carne asada burritos and rolled tacos a staple of Southern California life.
Going to a “—’Betos” and not finding guacamole is like going to Disneyland and not finding Mickey. Visiting Oz and not seeing the Wizard.
But the drought that season made the fruits scarce and when they were available they could be as costly as Dorothy’s ruby red slippers dipped in gold.
Since then the avocado supply and the price of avocado toast has stabilized. Somewhat. Prices never returned to pre-scarcity days but the cost increase has slowed to a manageable, predictable cruise given the influence of inflation and greed. But who knows how long that will last?
President-elect Donald Trump, has stated he would impose a tariff on, among other countries, Mexico. Twenty-five percent is his latest threat but who knows where his whims will finally land when he’s ushered into office in January.
Mexico is the largest supplier of avocados to the United States and California’s supply comes in handy when the Golden State’s growing season is not interrupted by drought or other natural calamity.
The tariff, Trump maintains, will be one of the economic cudgels he wields against Mexico for allowing immigrants to cross through the country to the United States. “The illegals,” as he and his followers like to refer to the undocumented immigrants coming to this country to work, are coming because Mexico is letting them. The tariff will work in tandem with Trump’s plan to deport en masse the millions of immigrants they classify as illegal. Many of those same people work in the orchards and farms that produce our fruits, vegetables and dairy. When they are gone the cost of farming and harvesting will be passed along to the consumer. As will the cost of tariffs on Mexican produce.
So during your holiday shopping, consider the gift of an avocado or guacamole. The uncertain political climate ahead may just make these the “must-have” gifts of the season.
