A global lime shortage is providing a boost for a Havelock North-based grower.
St Andrews Limes owner Anthony Williams has been recognised around the country as "Mr Limes" since he and his wife began growing the fruit in Havelock North 12 years ago. "I'm referred to as the lime guy in New Zealand."
Mr Williams, 68, said he had been inundated with queries since the lime shortage was widely reported at the weekend. "A lot of people have rung me up, emailed me, or spoken to me at the farmer's market," Mr Williams said.
The price of limes had increased drastically in the United States due to disruption of Mexican producers by drug cartels. "It's because the drug cartels have attacked the growers and are holding the limes back from the US ... The US is a huge user of limes and they're forcing the price up to hurt the US."
The Knight Templar drug cartel were disrupting deliveries and raiding farmers in the Mexican state of Michoacan. As a result, the price of limes had shot up in Mexico and the US and bars were pulling lime drinks off their happy hour menus.