Why we’re breaking up with (IMPORTED) avocados

“As a company guided by sustainability and community values, we can’t continue to purchase this product. ”

Environmental, sustainability, and quality issues are behind our decision to stop using imported avocados. We will use organic California avocados on a few summer sandwiches.

Call it irreconcilable differences. We are no longer offering imported avocados on the Grand Central Bakery cafe menu, and we want you to understand why. 

Q. No avocados? What's this all about?  
A. This decision has been a long time coming. The biggest reason is sustainability. Imported avocados require lots of water to grow (84.5 gallons per avocado!) and energy to ship and power the temperature-controlled containers where they ripen. Besides that, they’re so popular that farmers are deforesting land to plant more and replacing other crops that provide food security to local communities in Mexico and Central and South America.

With rising global prices for avocados, they’re expensive for us (and you). It’s even difficult for locals in the Mexican growing areas to afford this culturally important food.

We’re also increasingly concerned about drug cartels finding their way into the avocado world in Mexico, where 75% of our supplies in the U.S. originate.

Finally, avocado quality has been inconsistent and we’re seeing lots of food waste. With prices high, it just doesn’t make sense to continue buying them.

Q. Can't you get avocados from somewhere else?
A. Yes! We’ll be featuring California avocados on a few summer sandwiches: The CA Avocado Veggie Grinder and the summer version of the Happy Goat and Happy Garden. Unfortunately we can’t source these year-round.

Q. Are you changing the Veggie Grinder?
A. We’ve swapped out imported avocados for a house-made spread called Garden Mash, a delicious combo of fresh peas and white beans with fresh garlic, lemon juice, and Seka Hills extra virgin olive oil. It’s super fresh tasting, delicious, and sustainable! Customers tell us they love the Veggie Grinder as much or more with Garden Mash, and we hope you do, too.

Above: The Veggie Grinder now is made with Garden Mash, a savory spread of fresh peas and garlicky white beans.