It’s happened to many unsuspecting and hungry shoppers.
They enter their local burrito establishment and order their favorite burrito.
“Guacamole, please!” they explain as they finish up their order.
“Sorry, we are out of guacamole,” is the response of horror.
Next to California, Florida has a very large avocado crop. Their avocados are larger and smoother than their California friends. Sadly, Florida’s avocados are in danger. They are currently under attack by a deadly fungus, laurel wilt, which is spread by the ambrosia beetle. This fungus has the potential to wipe out the entire crop. Laurel wilt also has the potential to spread to California’s crop which provides 90 percent of America’s avocados.
In the Everglades, the fungus has already killed 330,000 acres of swampland.
“This is probably the biggest threat to the Florida avocado that’s ever been seen” said Jonathan H. Crane, a tropical fruit crop specialist at the University of Florida.
How do we stop this miserable beast from denying us our delicious fruit?
Drones and dogs are the answer.
First step is to send out the drones. The drones use thermal digital imaging to locate areas of the crop that are in potential danger. Researchers then analyze the images to located potentially damaged trees.
Second step is to release the hounds! Well, the two Belgian Malinois and two shelter dogs. These dogs then sniff out the dangerous trees in order to help the farmers remove and burn the danger as well as inject nearby trees with fungicide.
So the next time you get your delicious burrito with extra guac, be sure to, “Thank Dog (and Drone).”
You can help spread the word about this initiative by using the hashtag, #SaveTheGuac.
References:
1. TechTimes 2. AG Fax 3. NY Daily News
