Weekly · Year 01 · Number 26 · 10,000 copies · 16 Pages
March 26-1 April, 2014
www.theplayatimes.com
EVERY WEDNESDAY
COMMUNITY
Organic Gardens
MEXICO’ S LIME PRODUCERS
The civil association Moce Yax Cuxtal shares tips on growing your own organic vegetable garden
FEELING THE SQUEEZE
>5 HEALTH & BEAUTY
Air Ambulance
Should you take medical evacuation coverage before going on vacation or living abroad long-term?
BY E. FLORES
W
During February the price of limes rose 70%
>9 ·SPECIAL · ENTERTAINMENT Photos: Agency
e might be paying extra for our wedge of lime in our beers or fresh ceviche might soon become an expensive rarity, as the nation’s lime shortage worsens. Mexican cuisine relies heavily on limes and they are considered an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Needless to say we may also be feeling the squeeze, or maybe not, in our margaritas too - on both sides of the border.
The heavy rainfall recorded at the end of 2013 in Michoacan and Oaxaca is said to have affected this season’s yields, and in Colima, where there are over two million seedling lime trees, there has been an outbreak of the infectious bacterial plague HLB or Huanglongbing, also know as “citrus greening”. First recognized by a Chinese scientist in the 1950’s, which by the end of the 20th century had killed over 100 million citrus trees across the globe, the disease has
been ravaging Florida orange groves since 2005. Florida has lost an area bigger than the city of Dallas; over a third of its groves and subsequently the wholesale price of oranges has more than tripled. HLB is a serious incurable disease that within a couple of years will kill a tree, first slowly turning the leaves yellow, killing limbs and making the fruits bitter and inedible. The only solution for an infected area is to remove all trees with the disease and quarantine the infected area.
The increasing lime crisis was further highlighted, according to a recent report from a packing company in Veracruz, when armed robbers stole a truck containing 15.8 tons of limes. 632 boxes weighing 25kg each were taken with an estimated value of over $40,000 USD. The theft of the fruit, the price of which has risen nearly 150% from December to March, was reported to the town prosecutor’s office last week. During February alone the
price of limes rose by nearly 70% throughout Mexico, according to a government report published March 7. The current unrest in the northern state of Michoacan has also destabilized lime production. The current price per kilo is between 80-90 pesos, which is equal to the national daily minimum wage. Mexico is considering increasing lime imports to combat their high price, Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said March 14.
Comedy Festival
TPT spoke to Toronto comedian, Craig Norton, who will be performing and hosting the 2014 Akumal Comedy Festival
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