According to the Water Footprint Network, a single avocado requires nearly 230 litres of water to grow, compared to an orange that needs about 50 litres, or a tomato that requires 13 litres. In addition, experts say the international trade of avocadoes translates to a large carbon footprint.
Growing avocados is so lucrative that farmers cut down older trees and replace them with young avocado trees, draining local water supplies and leading to deforestation. In Michoacán—one of the most important ecosystems in Mexico—farmers have been removing oak and pine trees for avocado orchards at an alarming rate.
Yes, avocado can be consumed every day in a limited quantity (50 grams a day), as consuming it in excess may trigger adverse effects like bloating, gas, and upset stomach.
Eating avocados is fairly unethical. Cartels have infiltrated and corrupted much of the avocado trade in Mexico, leading to instances of violence, child labor, and forced labor. However, in many parts of the industry, Mexican avocado workers still make five times the minimum wage.
What's behind the shortage. Mexico, the main source of U.S. avocado imports, buys nearly 30% of its fertilizer from Russia, and because of the war in Ukraine the supply has tightened and made it more costly.
“The cost of putting that stuff in a package, including the labour and the cost of packaging and the cost of transport is just not worthwhile,” he said. “So the option is just to dump it. “It's not only cheaper (to throw it away), you just can't afford to put the labour into packing.
Smashed avocados: fruit dumped in Queensland amid bumper harvest and rising transport costs. Farmers have been forced to dump thousands of avocados in far north Queensland because of an oversupply of the fruit and increased transportation and packaging costs.
Thanks to regional climate diversity, harvest times are spaced throughout the year depending on where you are. Essentially, Australians have a year-round supply of fresh avocados. This all means that Australia sidesteps the ethical concerns that have plagued the rise of avocado mania in the US and Europe.
The demand for avocados has also resulted in significant deforestation of other countries, particularly Mexico. Mexican cartels have taken to the avocado trade, using violence to extract money from the farmers who sell the fruit. How much of this flavorless fruit is worth the destruction it causes?
Mexicans as well as other Spanish speaking Central and South Americans prefer consuming their avocados as a savoury snack or meal accompaniment.
Avoid mixing starchy fruits with high-protein fruits
Some fruits that are starchy in nature include green bananas and plantains. It is important to avoid mixing these fruits with high-protein fruits such as guava, dried apricot, kiwifruit, avocado, and blackberries.
You first have to look at what your goals are for your weight, gut health, overall healthy diet — and your body type, activity level and genes, Cucuzza says. “Usually, I would recommend that ½ to one avocado a day is reasonable,” she says.
Avocados & Genetic Modification (GMO)
Fresh avocados are a naturally grown product. The Hass variety – the most common varietal sold in the U.S. – is not genetically modified. It is the same varietal that Rudolph Hass discovered and patented in 1935.
The fad has reportedly increased the price of avocados. The popularity and demand for avocados has placed unprecedented pressure on the environment, leading to a reaction by some environmentally-aware cafés, which have now removed avocado toast from their menus.
Australian research conducted by the CSIRO has shown daily avocado consumption lowers cholesterol in people with high cholesterol without causing weight gain.
In any scenario, avocados use less resources and produce less greenhouse gases than animal products. Bottom line: Avocados are a LOT better for the environment than animal products.
Based on the Tablelands, Howe Farming supplies Coles with over four million avocados annually, mainly the popular Hass variety and the lesser-known Shepard (those with the smoother glossy green skin).
A combination of increased supply and reduced demand — slashed by months-long lockdowns that shuttered cafes in Sydney and Melbourne — has sent the supermarket price of an avocado plummeting to about 60 cents.
Avocado trees are part of mono-culture plantations, which often result in less nutrient-dense soil that can encourage fertilizer and pesticides to spread diseases and in turn – negatively impact the surrounding biodiversity.
“The updated long-term forecast suggests Australia's avocado production is expected to continue to increase to about 170,000 tonnes by 2026, more than double the 2020-21 crop. As a result of the oversupply, this year growers experienced unsustainable, low average wholesale prices.
Avocado production in Australia
Australian avocados are produced all year round, with production mainly in Queensland (March-September), northern New South Wales (July-October) and Western Australia (July-March). The main varieties produced are Hass and Shephard.
Industry overview
Queensland continues to dominate Australia's avocado production followed by Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, with a small amount of production in Tasmania and one known orchard in the Northern Territory. Orchard areas are expanding in almost every growing region.
They are grown in QLD, NSW,VIC, SA and WA. Hass avocados are usually available May to February while Shepard avocados are only available from February to May.