The Hidden Costs of Limes

At Twisted Alchemy, we pride ourselves on handpicking and sourcing citrus fruits directly from the farms they are grown on. Our trips to citrus groves across the world have given us insight into the complex and extensive supply chain upon which fruit pricing- and the pricing of food and beverage products around the globe- depends on. When prices of fruits and citrus soar, the cost of popular items from margaritas to guacamole skyrocket. The impact of an expensive shipment of limes can be felt all across the delicate supply chain, from lime growers in Mexico to bartenders in New York. 

Drastic fluctuations in weather, which are unfortunately becoming increasingly common, can have detrimental effects on the yields and prices of fruits and vegetables. Hurricanes affect production times and can be devastating to farms. Heavy rains can result in stylar breakdown, a disease that affects the overall taste and quality of the lime. This disease begins in the stem of the lime and appears as a discolored, water-soaked spot on the fruit. Other diseases such Huanglongbing (HLB), a citrus-greening disease, result in a reduction in fruit size, premature fruit drop, and bitter or salty flavors. Hard to contain and capable of spreading quickly, HLB remains a threat to lime crops, as no remedy currently exists. 

Bars and restaurants are constantly operating on thin margins. The variability of citrus pricing makes it especially frustrating when hours of juicing yields a meager amount of juice. Higher costs and smaller yields means budgets stretched farther and prices skyrocketed for customers. At Twisted Alchemy, we don’t think supply chain disruptions should be pricing businesses out of using fresh, pure juices in cooking and bartending. We don’t believe in sacrificing quality or quantity. That is why our handpicked fruits are selected and tested to ensure each bottle of our juice has the exact same quantity and flavor every time. At Twisted Alchemy, we think delicious juices shouldn’t be a squeeze on budgets.