WHO KNEW THAT ORGANIZED CRIME GANGS CONSTANTLY STEAL FROM AVOCADO FARMERS?
So here we thought it was just an avocado shortage that could make guacamole expensive. That was certainly true, to some degree, for the most recent Super Bowl extravaganza. But there are more market forces that can make avocados more expensive. But I would not have guessed that organized crime would be one of them. Yet, now we have very clear reports that organized crime regularly targets avocado farmers. Beyond driving up the costs of avocados, it creates chronic stress for these poor farmers. Well, and really expensive guac.
Read More: Woman In Pittsburgh Attacked By Ex After He Hid in Her Attic for Months
REGIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME REGULARLY, DAILY, ABSCONDS WITH LITERALLY TONS OF AVOCADOS, SO YOUR GUAC COSTS MORE
So how does this happen? Well, it’s pretty simple, actually. Avocado farmers don’t seem to have enough protection from criminal predators. And by enough, I really mean almost any at all. The numbers would shock any market watcher or, well, anyone really. But that’s because not a single day goes by without some kind of theft or hijacking. So what are the numbers? On an average day, farmers lose about 4 fully loaded trucks of avocados. But that translates into 12 tons of avocados. Every. Single. Day. So that means 84 tons of avocados a week.
Related: Hate Having Seizures? Eat More Avocados, Seriously
WAR ON DRUGS AND CORRUPTION MEANS THERE WILL BENO HELP FROM AUTHORITIES LIKE, EVER
But why don’t these farmers get any help from authorities? That’s a damn fine question, especially as these victimized farmers are asking for help all the time. But these farmers get victimized a second time after every theft. How? The insurance coverage only reimburses them under 80 cents for each kilogram of avocados. That’s a huge loss. Every damn day of the week and every week of the year. That’s almost 4,400 tons of avocados a year, by the way. So do you think that number doesn’t make you pay more in the US?
But help is not on the way, nor will it anytime soon. Mexico’s military and police authorities are already fully engaged, violently, with the drug cartels. Well, and they just might be a tad corrupt, too. But avocados are worth billions in revenues every year. This problem won’t go away. So next time you dip a chip, think of these poor farmers. I will.
