A shortfall in production in California, the leading U.S. avocado grower, has kicked up wholesale prices in recent weeks — which means you may soon be paying more for fresh guacamole and avocado toast. “We lost fruit that would have sized up to be this year’s crop,” said Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission, a trade group for avocado growers. California avocado production this year is forecast to plunge 46% to 215 million pounds from 401 million pounds in 2016, according to the California Avocado Commission. Starbucks Corp., for instance, in March announced that its organic avocado spread would be available at its stores nationwide. Avocados are grown in several California regions, including the San Diego area, Escondido, Fallbrook, Irvine, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 15, 2017 10:52 UTC