As Super Bowl Approaches, so Does an Avocado Crisis

Avocado prices have reached an all-time high, so your beloved Super Bowl guacamole may cost you extra this season. According to US and Mexican agricultural market statistics estimates, a 20-pound package of Hass avocados from Mexico’s top exporter to the US costs $6.29 more than it did the same time last year.

Avocado prices have climbed about eightfold in the last 20 years; however, the data series are just roughly 20 years old. Meanwhile, per capita consumption has increased in the last decade.

What is Pushing the Prices Up?

Price spikes across sectors have been prompted by a mix of rising manufacturing costs, workforce shortages, and supply chain backlogs. These factors have led to a record-breaking price tag in avocado sales. As Super Bowl Sunday is the country’s largest day for avocado consumption, the fan-favorite dip will not be cheap.

It’s not just avocados, either. According to Hass Avocado Board data from December, the entire fruit aisle is over 15% more costly than it was around this time last year. Due to a shortage of truck drivers who can cross the US-Canada border, Canada’s new vaccination mandate for truckers should raise the cost of products.

On the plus side, unlike in 2019, when numerous circumstances contributed to an “avocado crisis” that left many restaurants and grocery shops without avocados, there are no avocado shortages on the horizon. When a local breakfast business in Texas stopped serving fresh avocado, it enraged its young clientele and made national headlines. There will still be avocados on the shelves this time; however, you’ll have to spend more than you have in the last two decades.