Why Mexico Beats The U.S. In Avocado Production

The U.S. has developed a huge appetite for avocados, with per-capita consumption more than tripling since 2001. Neighbor Mexico has fueled a lot of the demand, with 80% of its avocado exports bound for the U.S., which in 2024 are set to total $2.7 billion. No other country comes close to Mexico’s production; in 2023, the state of Michoacán alone, where most of Mexico’s avocados come from, planted more than 440,000 acres, according to the USDA. By comparison, California, the U.S.' most dominant avocado producer, had little more than 52,000 planted avocado trees. Several factors like expensive labor, skyrocketing water costs and shrinking land availability have diminished the state’s role in the industry significantly. Can the U.S. avocado industry ever catch up to Mexico’s? Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:11 Chapter 1. California’s struggles 6:17 Chapter 2. Mexico’s dominance 9:15 Chapter 3. Supply chain risks Produced by: Natalie Rice Edit by: Evan Lee Miller Senior Managing Producer: Tala Hadavi Camera by: Bart Vandever Animation: Jason Reginato, Christina Locopo, Emily Rabbideau Additional Sources: Hass Avocado Board, California Avocado Commission, Avocado Institute of Mexico Additional footage: AP Photo, Avocados From Mexico, Avocados Producers and Exporters Association of Mexico, Getty Images, NBC News, Reuters » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to be more successful and confident with your money? Take CNBC Make It’s new online course. Our expert instructors will help you master your money and discover practical strategies to boost your savings, reduce debt, and grow your wealth—in a way that works best for you. Enroll in "Achieve Financial Wellness: Be Happier, Wealthier & More Financially Secure" to start your journey to financial freedom today! Get a 30% discount with the coupon code EARLYBIRD until September 2, 2024: https://cnb.cx/3WiasGB Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC on Threads: https://cnb.cx/threads Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC on WhatsApp: https://cnb.cx/WhatsAppCNBC #CNBC Why Mexico Beats The U.S. In Avocado Production