Social Media Users Blast Report America Would Run Out of Avocados If Trump Shuts Mexican Border

Avocados at the Vista farmers market in Vista, Calif., on July 29, 2017. Joshua Philipp/The Epoch Times

Social media users blasted reports, citing a grower, that avocados would run out in weeks if President Trump were to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border.

“You couldn’t pick a worse time of year because Mexico supplies virtually 100 percent of the avocados in the U.S. right now,” Steve Barnard, president and chief executive of Mission Produce, told the Reuters news agency.

“California is just starting and they have a very small crop, but they’re not relevant right now and won’t be for another month or so.”

Last week, Trump said he would shut down the Southern Border as early as this week if Mexico cannot “immediately stop” the inflow of illegal immigrants.

Central American migrants sit above the US-Mexico border fence as a Border Patrol agent stands guard, as seen from Tijuana to San Diego Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said at least 100,000 migrants have been apprehended at the border in March, which represents the highest monthly total in about a decade, Fox News reported.

“If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and ’talk.' Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing!” Trump said in two tweets last week.

Regarding the claim of a shortage, social media users and commenters blasted the report. Many on both sides of the political spectrum said the issue of illegal immigration far outweighs a potential avocado shortage.

Backlash