Lime Shortage! Mexican Drug Cartels In Michoacán Cause Of Global Scarcity Of Green Fruit

Lime prices in the U.S. have skyrocketted of late and it turns out that Mexican drug cartels may be behind it. The United States receives 95 percent of its limes from Mexico, specifically Michoacan, which has been at the center of the latest cartel war between the Knights Templar cartel, citizen vigilante groups and the Mexican government. The result has been the destruction of plantations, hijacking of lime trucks and the extortion of farmers by cartel members. In the U.S., which receives more than 95% of its limes from Mexico, there are sky-high prices and a shortage of the little green citrus fruit.

"Mexico received some heavy rains that destroyed a large amount of the lime crop, so with limited supplies we are seeing lime prices skyrocket," Bryan Black, spokesman for the Texas Department of Agriculture, told New York Daily News. Buyers have reported a huge increase in lime prices which have jumped from $14 a case to over $100. Restaurants and cocktail bars across the country have suffered accordingly, and many have been forced to increase the prices of their beverages.

Michoacan has been at the center of a prolonged conflict for almost a year. Fighting between the Knights Templar cartel and the emerging Nueva Generación de Jalisco cartel caused widespread violence across the state. A group of local militia callng themselves a 'self-defence' group have taken up arms against the cartel leaders. Meanwhile, the Mexican military and national police forces have become involved in the conflict, resulting in the capture of several key cartel members.

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