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by ibgames

EARTHDATE: August 28, 2016

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REAL LIFE NEWS: AVOCADO SHORTAGE FUELS CRIME WAVE IN NEW ZEALAND

by Hazed

New Zealand is experiencing a crime wave. But it’s not money, gold or jewels that are being stolen – it’s avocados.

Demand for the fruit has surged locally and internationally, and last year’s season was poor, so avocados are selling for between NZ$4-6 each across the country. That makes them valuable, and as a result there have been something like 40 large-scale thefts from avocado orchards reported since January. As many as 350 fruit can be stolen in each heist.

The thefts taken place in the middle of the night, with the crop either “raked” from the trees to be collected in sheets or blankets on the ground, or hand-picked. They are then driven off to pop-up road-side stalls, grocery stores or small-scale food shops.

Avocado farms have been forced to add protection to their crops, such as automatic lights and alarm systems. But what will probably put a stop to the thefts is the fact that a bumper crop of locally-grown avocados is due to hit the New Zealand market in the next few weeks, which will lower the price – reducing the incentive for thieves.

That’s market forces for you.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/15/avocado-thieves-shortage-crime-fruit-black-market-new-zealand

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