What the guac?! Why are avocados so expensive right now?

Lester Kiewit interviews Derek Donkin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers Association.

Listen below.

For many households, avocados are a kitchen essential, whether they're tossed in a salad, blended into a smoothie, or spread on a slice of toast.

But if you’ve recently visited the grocery shop, you’ve probably been stunned by the skyrocketing prices of avos – or, worse, couldn't find any.

According to Donkin, the South African avocado season runs from February to November, with January and December being lean months for local supply.

He also points out that logistical issues in importing the fruit from Tanzania have led to a shortage on our shelves.

As for the price spike, Donkin explains that when supply is low, prices go up.

However, he's optimistic that costs should start to drop in February as local supply picks up.

"When we look at supply and demand, obviously the price will be higher when there's less fruit around. That's just a fact of the market that we operate in."

- Derek Donkin, CEO – South African Subtropical Growers Association

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.