Yay, no more blood guac!

[canyonwalker]

A week ago I mentioned in passing that the US had imposed a ban on avocados from Mexico. The situation was/is that Mexican drug cartels have been getting into the avocado business. Cocaine, heroin, guacamole; they're so much alike! ...Actually, as this article from The New York Times on Saturday (19 Feb 2022) points out, competition between crime syndicates is pressuring them to diversify their criminal enterprises, and avocado exports are a $3B a year industry.

Around two weeks ago a USDA inspector working in Mexico was threatened by one of these gangs. The US responded with a temporary ban. Late last week the Mexican government improved its safety measures to the satisfaction of the USDA, and the US lifted the ban. This means no more scrutinizing labels on avocados we buy at the grocery store to ensure they're conflict-free and no more worrying every time we make guacamole that we might have blood on our hands. Yay, no more blood guac!

Comments

[some_other_dave]

These days I'm getting avocados from one of our neighbors.

BIG ones.

I have more empathy now for my co-workers ~20 years ago when I used to bring tons of avocados to work with me. From the 50-foot tree in the back yard.

[canyonwalker]

I don't get why your coworkers would feel put-upon... unless you kept offering them avocados after they'd already said no twice. I don't think we ever turned down an offer!