Chipotle warns of climate-change-caused avocado shortage

chipotlebabyIf the Planet Earth continues to heat up, that’s bad news for avocados, the Chipotle Mexican Grill people warn. Bottom line? Your guac might be fuacked.

The fast food chain goes through 97,000 pounds of avocados every day, and they’re concerned.

From The Smithsonian Magazine:

If temperatures continue to warm up and droughts intensify, Chipotle might have to make an unpopular but cost-saving decision: no more guacamole. Here’s the company’s statement in its latest annual report:

Like all restaurant companies, we are susceptible to increases in food costs as a result of factors beyond our control, such as general economic conditions, seasonal fluctuations, weather conditions, global demand, food safety concerns, generalized infectious diseases, fluctuations of the U.S. dollar, product recalls and government regulations.

Increasing weather volatility or other long-term changes in global weather patterns, including any changes associated with global climate change, could have a significant impact on the price or availability of some of our ingredients.

Specifically, Chipotle continues, “in the event of cost increases with respect to one or more of our raw ingredients, we may choose to temporarily suspend serving menu items, such as guacamole or one or more of our salsas, rather than paying the increased cost for the ingredients.”

PREVIOUSLY ON GUACAMOLE:

Burrito baby photo from this story.