In Northern California, conditions are conducive for cultivating avocados at a local level. Gary Gragg, owner of Golden Gate Palms Nursery in Richmond, proposes a shift towards home-grown avocados. Gragg articulates, "They're super beautiful, they're evergreen, they look lush." His advocacy for avocado cultivation stems from decades of firsthand experience with numerous trees at his nursery.
The surge in demand for avocados at his nursery coincides with rising import complications. Gragg notes, "Ever since the tariffs came out, people have been flying into the store wanting the avocados badly." The USDA indicates that approximately 90% of U.S. avocados are imported, and changes in tariffs impact this supply chain.
Currently, Mexican avocado tariffs are paused, but import fees on Peruvian and Colombian sources influence prices. Persistent supply chain challenges compound the issue, prompting some growers to consider local cultivation.
Gragg reports a 40% increase in avocado tree sales, with trees priced between $500 and $800. Maturing over five to seven years, each tree potentially yields 200 to 300 avocados annually. This prospect attracted Kim and Rich Spearsson of Martinez. With avocados priced for potential hikes, the Spearssons opted to purchase ahead of further tariff implementation.
Rich Spearsson believes in the advantage of their decision: "We knew that once this thing gets going, it's going to explode, and we'll get tons of avocados." Their investment aims to benefit their community and family over time.
Source: CBS News