Avocado Debate

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Whether smashed on toast or hailed as a super-food, the avocado has taken the world by storm, but what are the environmental and social impacts of this trendy fruit?

Whether smashed on toast or hailed as a superfood, the avocado has taken the world by storm, but what are the environmental and social impacts of this trendy fruit?

This book does not seek to demonise the avocado and its many enthusiasts. Instead, it will illuminate consumers on the often unseen impacts of foods. A staple of cafes, restaurants, homes, and social media channels, demand for the avocado has grown exponentially over the past thirty years. From an everyday crop in South and Central America to a global phenomenon, this drastic change in demand has many consequences for people and the planet. As demand grows, so does the need for more land, with land clearances threatening habitats and biodiversity. As production grows, so does global distribution and the impacts that air and sea travel have on the environment. The shift from a local to a global product disturbs the local food system, raising serious questions around food sovereignty and food justice and the importance of establishing an agricultural system that is both environmentally and socially just. While focusing here on the avocado, this book allows readers to gain a better understanding of the food system as a whole. In doing so, it empowers us all to think carefully and critically about the environmental and ethical implications of our food choices more broadly. We shouldn’t feel guilty about eating avocados, we should simply understand the impact of doing so.

This book is essential reading for all who are interested in learning more about the food system, sustainable diets, and the relationship between farming and the environment.

Obsah

1. The American Pear: The History of the Avocado

2. Commercially Viable: The Creation of the Hass Avocado

3. Superfood: The Nutritional Value of Avocados

4. Avocado Toast: Social Media, Marketing, and Influence

5. Green Gold: The Creation of NAFTA and the Resistance of US Producers

6. Holy Guacamole: Impact of NAFTA on Mexican Food Systems

7. New Markets: Regional Challenges to Mexico’s Avocado Monopoly

8. The High Seas: The Global Avocado Trade and Shipping

9. Growing Orchards: Land-use Change and Biodiversity Loss from Avocado Cultivation

10. Embedded Water: How Avocados Impact Water and the Potential Policy Solutions

11. Vida Campesina: Mexican Agroecology and Food Sovereignty

12. Cartel Control: Narcotics, Criminality, and Avocados

13. Alternative Guacamole: Shifting Consumption Patterns

14. Assurance: Certifying Avocados and the Role of Technology

15. A New Generation: Genetics and Novel Breeding of Avocados