An Avocado Shortage Could Be Coming Soon as the U.S. Temporarily Suspends Mexican Avocado Imports

If you’re planning to try out that viral Avocado Chili Corn Cheese Toastie this week, you may have to postpone your plans. The U.S. has suspended the import of avocados from Mexico after an inspector at a U.S. plant received a threat.

The U.S. authorities came to this decision after the inspector — who was working in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico — received the message on his official cellphone. The suspension was confirmed the day before the Super Bowl, which is also when the Avocados From Mexico Super Bowl ad was unveiled. The ad shows how avocados can bring people together during a Colosseum tailgate party. Fortunately, no party platters were compromised because the avocados for this year’s Super Bowl festivities had already been exported ahead of the event.

The U.S. grows its own avocados, but there is fear that the suspension will cause a shortage since Mexico is a large exporter of the fruit. According to the Hass Avocado Board, Mexico accounts for over 80% of the U.S.’s annual supply of Haas avocados.

Sadly, according to the Associated Press, this isn’t the first time that Mexico’s avocado inspectors were threatened. In 2019, a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors traveling through a town just south of Uruapan had their truck robbed at gunpoint. 

With a possible avocado shortage soon, now is the time to try your hand at new recipes such as this avocado dressing. But if you’re looking to stock up on the guac, you can try this tool that will help you keep your guacamole green a little longer.