After a brief hiatus, The Food Biz podcast is back! For the first episode of 2022, hosts Kristyn Tarpey and Ryan Nelson take a new approach to the podcast by focusing on hot topics that were covered in Barchart’s weekly Food and Beverage Newsletter. This week's episode starts off with the pair taking a deep dive into the avocado drama between the US and Mexico. 

Avocados have been the source of some major noise for all guacamole-loving consumers. The episode states that while avocado consumption has been on the rise over the past decade, imports have now been halted following a US safety inspector receiving a threat pertaining to their work in the plants. The halt of imports will not only play a role in the growing demand for the fruit, but also hinder consumption which is already a staggering nine pounds per person annually.

The suspension of imports combined with existing supply chain issues existing in the trucking industry will undoubtedly contribute to increasing prices being seen across the board. As the trucking industry continues to fight challenges, they foresee changes in the workforce as a whole. 

The conversation, in the episode and in the workforce, has shifted from the traditional way work is viewed. This has already caused major changes in the job markets and labor forces throughout the duration of COVID-19. During COVID-19, the government played a role in the labor market shift through stimulus money, ultimately leading to the change in job markets. 

The two connect this to the reevaluation of working conditions, specifically in the fast food industry that is slated to appear before the California State Senate. Some restaurants have already discussed or enacted changes to improve efficiency and work environments, such as Burger King electing to eliminate some less popular items to decrease menu size, yet there is still much to be done to improve conditions.  

Kristyn wraps up the conversation by bringing the avocados back to the forefront, noting that while there are many ways to perfect your at-home guacamole recipe, due to all underlying factors outlined in the episode, we can expect the delicious add-on to cost a little more for the foreseeable future.  

Make sure to listen to the entire episode on Spotify or in the Apple Podcasts App!  While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe. Also, feel free to reach out to us by email at news@barchart.com with any discussion topics, questions, comments, or overall feedback; Ryan and Kristyn would love to hear from you!