More and more people are giving up eating avocados. The reason is terrifying

Avocado, despite being praised for its health benefits, has a dark side. This species is very resource-intensive, and its cultivation negatively impacts the natural environment. What's more, behind avocado production lie the tragedies of many people, and even drug cartels.

Despite its numerous advantages, avocado is a fruit that stirs up a lot of controversy. There's even a movement called "avokadon't," in which supporters object to eating this type of fruit. Why is this happening? Well, the inner workings of its cultivation are horrifying.

The main issues concern avocados originating from Mexico and Chile, which are the largest producers of this fruit. Along with the increase in demand for avocado, there is also growing interest in its cultivation. In order to satisfy global demand, forests are being destroyed and replaced with avocado plantations. This leads to habitat degradation and soil erosion. Large amounts of pesticides are also used which, when they penetrate the soil, air, and water, negatively affect fauna and flora as well as the health of farmers and residents of surrounding areas.

Moreover, in recent years, avocado farming has become more profitable than cocaine production. As a result, many avocado plantations in Mexico have been taken over by drug cartels, leading to numerous victims (including fatalities) among farmers who refused to submit to the new owners. Working conditions on such plantations are often compared to slavery.

Additionally, avocado production is very resource-intensive. Producing just 2.2 lbs of avocado requires as much as 158.5 gallons of water, whereas producing 2.2 lbs of apples requires merely 0.26 gallons. As a result, the increasing number of avocado plantations leads to the depletion of natural water resources, which is particularly visible in Chile.

In light of the above, it's especially important to pay attention to the origin of fruits while shopping. We should reach for avocados from Spain or Israel, and avoid those from Chile and Mexico. You can also look for products labeled as "Fair Trade".