Australian cafe-goers will soon be able to breathe a little easier. Their beloved avocados, the prices of which have skyrocketed as high as $7 this year, should soon drop back to their usual $2 or $3.
Shortly after Christmas, Australians were hit with unprecedented avocado prices, putting smashed avocado and goats cheese breakfasts out of the reach of some.
#avocado prices prompt a new crime prevention sign at Superior Fruit and Wendy's Kitchen at Graceville in Brisbane. pic.twitter.com/iMcOoUHqUb
— Brian Hurst (@hurstb) February 3, 2016
The rise in prices caused consternation among those in the avocado industry, who flung accusations back-and-forth about who was responsible.
Reports initially blamed wet weather and bushfires in Western Australia for the shortage.
However, a former chief executive of Avocados Australia told Fairfax Media that growers had tried to manipulate the market by ripening an unusually large number before Christmas, leaving a shortage after the holiday.
But avocado growers in Western Australia quickly hit back, saying the prices were simply driven by weather and unusually high demand.
Whatever the case, the great avocado shortage of 2016 looks set to end. Avocados from Bundaberg in Queensland are about to hit shelves around the country, followed by avocados from Cairns, according to News Limited.
The current chief executive of Avocados Australia, John Tyas, said when that happened, prices would tumble. But he warned it could be hard for growers to keep up with local demand.
“Australians seem to be having a love affair with avocados and it shows no sign of stopping, Tyas told News Limited.
“Even with 1m trees in the ground and many new plantings, we still think demand will continue to grow.”
