President Trump’s threat to close the border with Mexico will have a major effect on one beloved food: avocados.
Thanks to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, the impact we can expect is obvious from this one chart:
US production has not changed much since 1990 or so. If anything, it has dropped in recent years.
Pounds of avocados available per capita have increased from less than one in 1990 to more than seven pounds now. That’s the pounds available to every man, woman, and baby in the country, less exports, plus imports.
All of the increase comes from imported avocados.
Of imported avocados, more than 89 percent come from Mexico.
Reuters says if the border closes, we run out of avocados in three weeks.
The Washington Post says if the border closes, avocados could be—toast (I’m quoted).
Ouch.