Grand Central Bakery 'Breaking Up With Avocados,' Cites Environment

PORTLAND, OR — "Call it irreconcilable differences."

That's the message from Grand Central Bakery on why they will no longer be including avocados on their menu.

"We're breaking up with avocados," the company said in a statement. "As a company guided by sustainability and community values, we can't continue to purchase this product."

Grand Central, as they are known, has seven locations around Portland and another four around Seattle. It said that it's been struggling with avocados for a couple of years, adding the issue has been two-fold.

The company's statement cited violence connected to the avocado market in Mexico and the tremendous amount of water needed in growing avocados.

"There are serious problems in the Mexican growing areas where most U.S. avocado supplies originate, from rapid deforestation to violence and extortion of farmers by the drug controls that control the region," according to Grand Central.

"Last month, our government temporarily halted avocado imports when the safety of a U.S. inspector was threatened."

The Grand Central customers who will be most affected by the change are fans of the Veggie Grinder.

The chain replaced avocados with something called "Garden Mash," which it describes as "a creamy-chunky puree of bright green fresh peas, white beans, Sea Hills olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and salt."

Grand Central said they had received questions about why not just switch to California-grown avocados. It said that those avocados are only available in spring and summer and would not provide a sustainable solution.

Lastly, the company said that getting rid of avocados helps the company with its mission to support local providers, something that shipping avocados north doesn't help.