Lime Squeeze

May 14, 2014

Poor Weather, Citrus Tree Disease Blamed for Lime Crop Shortage

Where’s the lime in my drink?

That’s a question that you might be asking when you’re at the bar this summer. Interestingly, as we head into prime patio season, there is a lime shortage in North America - and it’s putting the squeeze on restaurants and bars.

Prices for the green citrus fruit have been jacked up. Cases of limes are being sold for as much as $200, while only a few months ago they were selling for about $30 to $40.

Bad weather destroyed much of the lime crop in Florida, and now the next closest growing area for limes, Mexico, is experiencing similar problems. Unfavorable growing conditions in Mexico and a citrus tree disease (called huanglongling) are all factors contributing to the scarcity. And to make matters worse, a Mexican drug cartel has reportedly taken advantage of the situation, driving prices up even further.

Some restaurants and bars in Canada and the U.S. have begun switching up their drink recipes, wherever possible, and in some cases offering lemons as a substitute.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.