Avocado Prices Surge, And It's (Partially) China's Fault

You might want to pass on the guacamole this Cinco de Mayo, because avocado prices have just jumped to an all-time high thanks in part to increasing Chinese demand. 

According to Bloomberg, surging global consumption and a reduction in harvests from the world’s three major avocado producers (Mexico, Peru and California) have led prices of the creamy fruit to double in the last year.

Avocados, otherwise known as "butter fruit" or "alligator pears" in Chinese, are quickly becoming popular in the Middle Kingdom due to their health benefits. Exports from Latin America to China are growing at a rate of 250 percent per year, according to the Financial Times.

But perhaps the biggest culprit in rising avocado prices is none other than the United States, the world's largest consumer and importer of avocados. The US also happens to be home to ridiculous concepts like "avocado bars" — restaurants with menus devoted entirely to the precious butter fruit. 

[Image via California Avocado Commission]