The Mexican lime crop has been plagued by
harsh wind and heavy rainthis season.
Add to all of that, one of the most serious agricultural diseases in the
world – Huanglongbing , a disease spread by tiny flying insects, the Asian
Citrus Psyllid. Trees that have been infected by this disease produce fruit
that is hard, bitter and misshapen. This disease will kill the trees within a
couple of years. In the U.S., which receives more than 95% of its limes from
Mexico, the
lime shortage has caused the limes to rise from about $.29 each to costing as
much as $1.30 each compared to one year ago based on U.S. Department of
Agriculture figures.
Part of the cause for the shortage can be traced to the
central state of Michoacan, home to the world's biggest supplier of limes and
current site of a bloody war between citizen self-defense groups and the
violent Knights Templar cartel. There
has been hijacking of lime trucks by cartel members which have slowed exports ta
a near standstill, coupled this with farmers refusing to pay “protection fees”
to Knights Templar enforcers. Heavy winds,
rains and a tree disease afflicting the area hasn’t helped the problem either.
The
food and alcohol service industry is being hit hard with the cost of the limes
rising so quickly. Many bars have quit
putting limes on cocktails and stopped serving cocktails that require fresh
lime.
Some tips for surviving the lime shortage
like using a different garnish other than a lime. They are not the only garnish available, try
cucumbers, lemons, oranges or a cherry as garnishes instead. Sometimes a new and original garnish may
put new excitement in your cocktails.
Bahama Bob’s “Limeless” Daiquiri
·
3 oz. Brinley’s Shipwreck Lime Rum
·
½ oz. Agave Nectar
·
½ oz.
Luxardo Marachino Liqueur
Place all ingredients in a shaker
filled with ice, shale until chilled and strain into a chilled Martini Glass
and garnish with bitter orange zest.
You can replace the white rum with a lime flavored rum for many of the
cocktails in order to avoid the cost of the skyrocketing limes. Many times the use of a citrus zest will add
the flavor you are seeking in the cocktails you no longer can afford to put
lime in. ;o)
