16 Foods That May Completely Vanish By Summer Due To Supply Shortages

Have you noticed certain items mysteriously disappearing from store shelves lately? I definitely have, and it’s becoming more common by the day. Just last week, I visited three different stores searching for my favorite coffee beans, only to be met with empty shelves and disappointed sighs.

It turns out, global supply chains are currently facing unprecedented pressure. From major shipping delays and labor shortages to extreme weather and climate-related disruptions, a combination of issues is creating a supply crisis like never before.

Experts are warning that if these problems continue, we could see even more everyday essentials vanish from stores before summer is in full swing. Better stock up while you can!

1. Avocados Under Threat

Avocados Under Threat
© 1News

Green gold is in serious trouble, folks! My Sunday brunch hasn’t been the same since prices started climbing faster than my toddler up the stairs. Mexican avocado exports, which account for nearly 80% of the U.S. supply, face unprecedented challenges.

Severe drought conditions across central Mexico have decimated crops, while cartel violence continues disrupting harvests and transportation. Water shortages have forced farmers to abandon younger trees, creating a supply gap that will take years to fill.

I recently paid nearly $4 for a single avocado—triple what I paid last year! Agricultural experts predict availability could plummet by 40% before July, potentially making that creamy guacamole a distant memory this summer.

2. Coffee Beans Running Dry

Coffee Beans Running Dry
© AP News

Morning without my coffee? Unthinkable! Yet my barista warned me last week that prices are skyrocketing for a reason. Brazil and Vietnam, responsible for over half the world’s coffee production, are experiencing catastrophic crop failures.

Unusual frost patterns devastated Brazilian highlands last season, while Vietnam’s coffee regions suffer from unprecedented drought. Adding to the crisis, a fungal disease called coffee leaf rust has spread through Central American plantations, destroying up to 70% of crops in some areas.

Coffee stockpiles are dropping to historic lows. Industry analysts predict specialty beans could become luxury items by June, with prices doubling or tripling. Time to wean myself off that morning espresso—or prepare for a serious budget adjustment!

3. Vanilla’s Vanishing Act

Vanilla's Vanishing Act
© Toronto Star

Baking my grandmother’s famous cookies last month, I nearly choked when I saw the price tag on real vanilla extract—$22 for a tiny bottle! Madagascar, which produces 80% of the world’s vanilla, has been hammered by three major cyclones this year alone.

These storms destroyed thousands of vanilla orchids, which take 3-4 years to mature before producing beans. Beyond weather disasters, vanilla faces a pollination crisis. The Melipona bee, which naturally pollinates vanilla orchids, is experiencing population collapse due to pesticide use and habitat loss.

Ice cream manufacturers are already hoarding existing supplies, driving prices through the roof. By summer, genuine vanilla may become so scarce that only premium products will contain the real thing, while everyday items switch to synthetic alternatives.

4. Olive Oil Shortage Looms

Olive Oil Shortage Looms
© The Guardian

My Italian grandmother would be appalled by what’s happening to olive oil these days! After drizzling the last precious drops from my bottle last night, I discovered the truth behind those empty supermarket shelves.

Spain, Italy, and Greece—producing 80% of global olive oil—are experiencing their worst drought in 1,200 years. Mediterranean olive trees, normally drought-resistant, are now failing to produce fruit after multiple consecutive dry seasons. Heat waves exceeding 104°F have literally cooked olives on branches before harvest.

Spanish production alone dropped by 50% this year. Global reserves are at their lowest in decades, with prices already up 92% from last year. Experts predict that by June, authentic extra virgin olive oil could become a luxury item reserved for special occasions.

5. Chocolate Melting Away

Chocolate Melting Away
© Syngenta

Holy cacao crisis! My chocolate stash isn’t just emptying because of my late-night snacking habits. West Africa, where 70% of the world’s cocoa grows, faces a perfect storm of agricultural disasters.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire cocoa farms are battling an aggressive fungal disease called black pod, which can destroy 90% of infected crops. Simultaneously, aging cocoa trees are producing fewer beans while climate change brings irregular rainfall patterns that confuse the delicate growing cycle.

Small farmers are abandoning cocoa for more reliable crops, further reducing supply. Major confectionery companies are quietly reformulating products with less cocoa. Premium chocolate prices have jumped 45% already, and industry insiders warn that by summer, authentic dark chocolate could become a genuine luxury item.

6. Citrus Fruits Squeezed Out

Citrus Fruits Squeezed Out
© The Guardian

Squeezing my morning orange juice has become a luxury I can barely afford! Florida’s citrus production has plummeted to its lowest level since 1937—an astonishing 90% drop from its peak. The culprit? A devastating bacterial disease called citrus greening.

This incurable infection causes fruit to remain green, bitter, and unsuitable for consumption. California and Texas groves are now showing signs of infection, while Mediterranean producers face severe drought. The insect carrying this bacteria has shown resistance to pesticides, leaving farmers without effective weapons.

Last week, my grocery store limited orange purchases to two per customer! Industry experts predict that by June, fresh oranges, lemons, and grapefruits could become scarce luxury items, with juice prices potentially doubling as manufacturers compete for dwindling supplies.

7. Rice Reserves Running Low

Rice Reserves Running Low
© The New York Times

My favorite curry just doesn’t taste the same without perfectly cooked basmati rice! After struggling to find my preferred brand for weeks, I discovered why. India, the world’s largest rice exporter, has implemented export restrictions after monsoon failures damaged crops across key growing regions.

Simultaneously, China faces its worst flooding in decades across rice-producing provinces. The floods have destroyed millions of acres of paddies and contaminated harvests with industrial pollutants. Pakistan, another major producer, lost 45% of its rice fields to unprecedented flooding last season.

Global rice reserves have fallen to their lowest level in 17 years. Food security experts warn that by summer, specialty rice varieties could disappear entirely from Western markets as producing countries prioritize feeding their own populations first.

8. Maple Syrup Tapping Out

Maple Syrup Tapping Out
© The Washington Post

Pancake Sunday at our house faces a sticky situation! Last month, I paid double for authentic maple syrup compared to last year. Quebec, producing 70% of the world’s maple syrup, experienced its worst season in decades due to bizarre weather patterns.

Maple trees require specific freeze-thaw cycles to produce sap – freezing nights followed by warmer days. Climate change has disrupted these patterns, with many regions experiencing either prolonged warmth or extended freezes. Some producers reported 80% less sap collection this season.

Canada’s strategic maple syrup reserve (yes, that’s really a thing!) has been depleted to its lowest level since creation. Industry insiders predict that by summer, authentic maple syrup could become scarce, with prices potentially tripling. I’m already experimenting with honey alternatives for our family breakfasts!

9. Almonds Cracking Under Pressure

Almonds Cracking Under Pressure
© Gizmodo

Crunching on my favorite almond snack yesterday, I realized I might need to savor every bite! California produces 80% of the world’s almonds, but the state’s mega-drought has pushed production to the brink of collapse.

Each almond requires 1.1 gallons of water to produce, making them particularly vulnerable to water shortages. Groundwater depletion has forced farmers to abandon thousands of acres of orchards, with satellite imagery showing brown patches of dying trees across the Central Valley.

Pollination issues compound the problem, with bee colony collapses reducing effective orchard pollination by up to 35%. Industry analysts predict almond butter prices could double by summer, while almond milk manufacturers are already reformulating with cheaper alternatives. My morning smoothie recipe might need a serious rethink!

10. Bananas Slipping Away

Bananas Slipping Away
© Industry Tap

Bananas going extinct? That’s bananas! Yet my produce guy confirmed supplies are dwindling and prices climbing. A fungal disease called Panama Disease (Tropical Race 4) is ravaging global banana plantations with frightening efficiency.

Unlike previous banana blights, this strain attacks the Cavendish variety—which represents 99% of exported bananas. The fungus remains viable in soil for decades, making infected plantations unusable for banana cultivation. Major producing countries like the Philippines and Ecuador are reporting rapid spread despite containment efforts.

Scientists race to develop resistant varieties, but commercial-scale alternatives remain years away. Industry experts predict significant supply disruptions by summer, with potential price increases of 200-300%. My morning banana smoothie might become an occasional luxury rather than a daily habit!

11. Seafood Swimming Away

Seafood Swimming Away
© National Geographic

Last weekend’s seafood paella cost me nearly twice what I paid last summer! My fishmonger explained why: wild-caught seafood faces multiple existential threats. Warming oceans have pushed fish populations toward cooler poles, disrupting traditional fishing grounds.

Meanwhile, acidification from carbon dioxide absorption is devastating shellfish, whose calcium carbonate shells literally dissolve in more acidic water. Oyster harvests along the Pacific Northwest have declined by 60% in recent years. Overfishing compounds these problems, with global fishing fleets competing for dwindling stocks.

Atlantic cod, once abundant enough to build economies around, has virtually collapsed. Marine biologists predict that by summer, fresh wild-caught seafood could become prohibitively expensive for average consumers, with some species disappearing entirely from markets.

12. Wheat Woes Worldwide

Wheat Woes Worldwide
© SciTechDaily

Baking bread has been my pandemic hobby, but flour shortages are threatening my sourdough streak! Ukraine and Russia, collectively known as Europe’s breadbasket, typically export 30% of global wheat supplies. Ongoing conflict has disrupted planting, harvesting, and shipping.

Simultaneously, North American wheat regions face severe drought conditions. The U.S. winter wheat crop is projected to be the smallest since 1963, while Canadian production dropped 40% last year. India, another major producer, recently restricted exports after heat waves damaged crops.

Global wheat reserves have fallen to their lowest level in 14 years. Food economists predict that by summer, specialty flours could become scarce, with prices for basic wheat products potentially rising 30-50%. My baking experiments might need to shift toward alternative grains!

13. Tomato Troubles Brewing

Tomato Troubles Brewing
© Marianas Variety

My homemade pasta sauce just doesn’t taste the same without fresh tomatoes! After noticing skyrocketing prices, I learned that California, which produces 95% of America’s processed tomatoes, faces catastrophic water shortages.

Tomato acreage has dropped 40% from its peak as farmers prioritize higher-value crops that require less water. A brutal heat wave last summer literally cooked tomatoes on the vine across major growing regions. Meanwhile, Italy’s tomato heartland suffered its worst drought in 70 years, with Po Valley production dropping by half.

Processing plants are operating at reduced capacity, with some major brands already reformulating sauces to use less tomato paste. Industry analysts predict that by summer, fresh tomatoes could become premium items, with processed products like ketchup and sauce facing significant price increases.

14. Garlic Shortage Stinks

Garlic Shortage Stinks
© Gardener’s Path

My kitchen feels naked without a hanging braid of garlic! Yet this essential ingredient faces serious supply challenges. China, producing 80% of the world’s garlic, has experienced catastrophic flooding across key growing regions in Shandong province.

Simultaneously, California’s Gilroy region—America’s garlic capital—continues battling severe drought conditions that have reduced yields by 30%. A new fungal disease called white rot has emerged in multiple growing regions, causing bulbs to rot in storage and reducing shelf life.

Labor shortages have left crops unharvested in several countries, as garlic remains labor-intensive to plant and harvest. Culinary experts predict that by summer, fresh garlic could become significantly more expensive, with some restaurants already switching to jarred alternatives. My homemade garlic bread might never taste the same!

15. Honey Production Buzzing Out

Honey Production Buzzing Out
© The New York Times

Sweet disaster! My morning tea ritual faces a sticky situation as honey supplies dwindle. Global bee populations continue their alarming decline, with U.S. beekeepers reporting 45% colony losses last year—the highest ever recorded.

Multiple factors are killing bees: parasitic Varroa mites, pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and climate change disrupting flowering patterns. New Zealand’s prized Manuka honey production has dropped 50% due to unusual weather patterns affecting nectar production in tea trees.

Counterfeit honey flooding markets complicates matters further, with some estimates suggesting 30% of commercial honey is adulterated or fake. Apiculture experts predict that by summer, authentic, single-source honey could become increasingly rare, with prices potentially doubling. I’ve started rationing my precious local wildflower honey for special occasions only!

16. Potatoes Facing the Mash

Potatoes Facing the Mash
© The Ecologist

French fries without potatoes? Unthinkable! Yet my favorite spuds face serious trouble. Idaho, which produces one-third of U.S. potatoes, experienced temperatures exceeding 110°F last summer, literally cooking potatoes underground before harvest.

A new strain of potato blight—similar to the pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine—has emerged in major growing regions. This disease can destroy entire fields within days. European producers face different challenges, with Belgium and Netherlands reporting 30% smaller harvests due to extreme weather swings.

Fast food chains have quietly reduced portion sizes as supplies tighten. Agricultural economists predict that by summer, certain potato varieties could become scarce, with prices for french fries and chips potentially rising 20-40%. My comfort food mashed potatoes might become an occasional treat rather than a dinner staple!