It Takes 74 Gallons Of Water to Grow A Single Pound Of Avocados
It Takes 74 Gallons Of Water to Grow A Single Pound Of Avocados
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WORLD • GILLIAN FULLER • OCT 1, 2014 - 1:44PM
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This is horrible news.
Avocados, everyone’s favorite fruit (and the subject of many an Instagram), are apparently ruining the environment.
OK, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but get this: It takes a whopping 74.1 gallons of water to produce just one pound of avocados (compared to lettuce, which requires 5.5 gallons per pound).
About 90 percent of US avocado production is in a small section of Southern California. The area is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts the region has ever seen.
Do the math: No rainfall in the area plus a massive boom in avocado production in recent years (per capita production increased from 1.1 pounds annually in 1999 to 4.5 pounds in 2011) means water to grow the fruit has to be sourced from expensive underground aquifers.
People in the area are then sometimes left without water during avocado season, which spans from May to August.
We rely on imported avocados, most notably from Chile, that has a climate is similar to California’s during the rest of the year.
In Chile, another drought-stricken place, it takes an unbelievable 96.8 gallons of water to grow just one pound of avocados.
Some of the poorer communities in Chile’s Central Valley, the primary area where avocados are grown, also lack water during the avocado season.
As climates continue to change — and likely, droughts persist — the problem will only continue to worsen.
Consider this as some food for thought the next time you chow down on that delicious guacamole or avocado toast — avocados, sadly, may not be around forever.
http://elitedaily.com/news/world/74-...rought/780665/