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Mexico avocado supply promised to be strong despite lingering fuel shortages

Posted at 2:15 PM, Jan 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-18 15:16:00-05

Rest easy America. Your seven-layer Super Bowl dip, football flautas and halftime chimichangas appear to be safe this year.

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, there should be plenty of guacamole as United States imports of Mexican avocados are at record levels. And according to the advocacy group Avocados from Mexico, it should continue as Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta approaches on Feb. 3.

The group reports the United States received a 71.9 million pounds for the week ending Jan. 13. They also project that imports of Mexican avocados are projected to reach 217 million pounds, up 16 percent from last year during the same period.

But all of those goals are coming as a serious fuel shortage rages across Mexico.

The Mexican state of Michoacan, where the bulk of Mexican avocados are grown, is one of several western Mexicans states are experiencing a fuel shortage brought on by rampant fuel theft, Reuters has reported.

Pemex, Mexico’s state-run petroleum company, announced earlier this month that fuel inventory was not the issue. Instead, they blame rampant theft that is causing logistical delays as the company works out new routes to service the states of Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Queretaro and the State of Mexico.

Reports have indicated that drug cartel members allegedly have been illegally siphoning off billions of dollars worth of gas from Pemex trucks across Mexico, CNN reports. Many Mexican farms still have not sent their avocados north to the burgeoning American avocado market that peaks each year with the Super Bowl.

Even with those dire reports, Avocados from Mexico assures us that America is safe.

Our halftime serving trays are hanging in the balance.