Supply of avocados beginning to dwindle after Costa Rica imposes import ban
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May 18th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) Costa Rica’s supply of avocados is beginning to dwindle and could run dry within two weeks after the country banned the import of the fruit from eight countries earlier this month, according to the The Chamber of Importers of Perishable Products.
Costa Rica’s State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) earlier this month banned the import of avocados from eight countries as well as the U.S. state of Florida due to the presence of a virus known as Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (ASBV) affecting the fruit in those countries.
The ban applies to avocados from Australia, Spain, Ghana, Guatemala, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and the U.S. state of Florida, a measure intended protect the country’s own avocado crop from the disease, according to the SFE.
More than 80% of avocados consumed in Costa Rica are imported, with Mexico being the country’s primary supplier.
Importers are considering alternatives, including sources in Peru and Nicaragua, but warn the varieties are of significantly lesser quality and shipments from Peru could take 24 days to reach Costa Rican shores.
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