The price of limes (limones), a popular, arguably essential ingredient in Mexican cuisine, has shot through the roof in recent months due to an “explosive cocktail” of unfortunate circumstances, say producers.
The average price of limones has risen by 176 percent since December, according to Profeco, the nation’s consumer watchdog.
In the past few weeks limes have been selling for around 45 pesos a kilo in metro area Guadalajara and its environs, in keeping with median prices around the country. Some vendors, however, most notably in Mexico City and near the U.S. border, have been guilty of price gouging and are hawking the fruit for as much as 80 pesos a kilo, reports indicate.
According to the Reporter’s monthly Consumer Survey report, the price of limes (purchased at Soriana) in March 2013 was 17.90 pesos a kilo. A year earlier, in March 2012, limes at the same store cost 7.45 pesos a kilo.The “explosive cocktail” that some producers are referring to includes the troubled security situation in the state of Michoacan, one of Mexico’s largest suppliers of limes. Producers have complained of being forced to pay protection money to local drug cartels, a factor that has pushed up the price of the fruit.
The Mexican government rejects the notion that security issues have much to do with the inflated price of limes and say inclement weather combined with pest infestation is the major reason for the shortage of the citrus fruit.
The skyrocketing price of limes has even begun to affect the inflation index. According to Bloomberg News, the fruit became “the biggest contributor to inflation nationwide, accounting for one third of last month’s increase in consumer prices.”
Mexico’s Finance Secretariat suggests the price of limes will start to drop in the first weeks of April. Current imports of limes cannot cover the huge demand for the fruit, the agency adds.
Meanwhile, lime producers are having to take extra care of their valuable commodity. A truck carrying 650 cases of limes was held up by armed men in Veracruz this week. Similar incidents of highway theft of lime shipments have been reported in other states.
Lime thieves have also targeted orchards, forcing farmers to employ guards to defend their crops.
The higher prices have prompted some taco vendors and bar owners to limit their supply of free limones. When ordering tacos to go, consumers could normally expect to receive a bag of at least a half-dozen or more limes along with salsas, chopped onion and cilantro. They are now lucky to get a measly one or two.