Avocados Now Cost More Than They Have in Years. Here’s How to Cope

Holy guacamole!

Avocado prices are skyrocketing. That tasty bowl of guac for your tortilla chips on Cinco de Mayo is going to be pricy.

Avocados cost more than twice what they did a year ago, according to Bloomberg. Prices are higher than they’ve been going back nearly 20 years.

What’s more, they’re expected to stay that way all summer.

What’s the deal with expensive avocados all of a sudden?

As usual, you can blame those wacky, unpredictable market forces: supply and demand. Oh, those crazy kids supply and demand, always causing mischief.

Here are two reasons the supply of avocados is down:

• A growers’ strike in Mexico, which supplies more than 80 percent of the avocados eaten in the U.S.
• A drought in California, which supplies the rest of America’s avocados. California production is expected to drop 44% this year.

Meanwhile, here are two reasons the demand for avocados is up:

• They’re so doggone healthy. Avocados contain healthy oils and fats as well as the highest protein content of any fruit — catnip to health-conscious Americans. The average American consumed nearly 7 pounds of avocados in 2015 compared to just half that amount in 2006, according to the U.S. government.

• China. Suddenly, China loves this creamy green fruit. Exports of avocados from Latin America to China have been growing by about 250% a year, according to the Financial Times.

What Can We Do About This Civilization-Threatening Crisis?

“But I want my guacamole!” we hear you saying.

We understand, believe us. Nothing compliments a nice salty tortilla chip or a crisp baby carrot like a generous helping of fresh guac.

Maybe with a margarita on the side?

You can taste it right now, can’t you? Yeah, so can we.

Here are two articles that can help.

First, get your money’s worth with these five affordable avocado recipes. (This article is titled “5 Avocado Recipes for Less Than $5,” but with the surging cost of avocados, we can’t guarantee that price range is 100% accurate anymore.)

Second, don’t let your avocados go to waste. Those things are getting expensive, man. If your avocadoes get a little mushy, don’t throw them away. Instead, try these 11 yummy recipes for overripe avocados.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Your Turn: Will you do without avocados, or will you pay extra for guac?

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He loves him some fresh guac.