The lime, a staple in many eateries and grocery stores, has doubled in price over the last two months after heavy fall storms in Mexico knocked blooms from trees.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, grocery stores were selling limes at an average of 53 cents each in mid-March, up from 21 cents each at the same time last year.
Colin Fain, the CEO of Agronometrics, a startup that analyzes agricultural data, said the spread of citrus greening disease in Mexico is also contributing to the high lime prices. The disease, spread by an insect, causes misshapen fruit that doesn’t ripen properly.
Of limes imported to the U.S., 98 percent come from Mexico.
— Harmony Huskinson
Cronkite News Service, distributed by MCT Information Services