Cayman bartenders handed lemons

Skyrocketing lime prices have forced the fruit out of bars along Seven Mile Beach in what bartenders are calling “The Great Lime Depression of 2014.” Calls to several bars along Seven Mile Beach yesterday confirmed the majority of bars were out of the citrus fruit. 

Billy Bones Pool Bar chef Michael Facey said he had stopped ordering cases of limes after the price tripled because of bad weather in the United States and Mexico. 

Although the price varies between Cayman’s distributors, Mr. Facey said it appeared the price of limes had jumped from around 30 cents apiece to $1.25. 

The price of a case of limes has risen from $50 to as high as $140. 

“We just don’t buy it. It’s just way too expensive,” Mr. Facey said. 

While many bars are substituting lemons for limes in Corona bottles and gin and tonics, the rising price of lemons may mean that even those fruit could be short supply eventually. 

Mr. Facey said the price of lemons was now also starting to escalate because venues were purchasing lemons in replace of their green counterparts. 

Billy Bones bartender Christina Ravdas said customers didn’t seem too fazed by the missing fruit. 

“There have been no complaints yet, some tourists joked about setting up their own lime importing business,” Ms. Ravdas said. “I heard that most bars on Seven Mile Beach are out.” 

Mark Nightingale, from Progressive Distributors’ purchasing department, said the price of limes continued to rise each week because of bad weather affecting citrus growers. 

“They are not available. We just can’t buy them,” Mr. Nightingale said. “They expect it to be like this until May.” 

Kirk Market general manager Craig Gaskill said the store currently had a minimal quantity of limes on hand until the next container arrives. 

“There has been an increase in cost based on product availability versus demand,” Mr. Gaskill said. “I do anticipate, based on normal weekly demand, that there will be points we will be unable to maintain supply.” 

Foster’s Food Fair IGA marketing manager Kafara Augustine said suppliers were trying to meet the demands for limes but had fallen short due to their availability and quality.  

“Unfortunately, as a result of the shortage, when Foster’s Food Fair IGA stores get limes back in stock, the prices will increase beyond normal price range,” Ms. Augustine said. 

“However,” she added, “the lime prices should start to come down as soon as warmer weather arrives in Mexico.”