Cinco de Mayo looks bleak for margarita and mojito lovers as #limeageddon looms [pics]

Not only have Mexican lime farmers had to deal with bad weather and plant disease, but a drug cartel has discovered that hijacking lime shipments is pretty profitable. PolicyMic reports:

Mother Nature had already been threatening Mexican limes for a while: A severe drought was followed by the spread of a bacterial disease (huanglongbing) that attacks citrus trees, then by a harsh winter that killed tree blossoms. As the lime supply grew more and more valuable, a Mexican gang saw an opening for an investment opportunity.

As a result the price of limes has quadrupled over the last year.

https://twitter.com/kmeyerpdx/status/461692824917127168

Limes are integral to Mexican food and cocktails so this doesn’t bode well for upcoming Cinco de Mayo festivities.

@dr_ddennis OMG…..I am really worried about this weekend. Have you heard about #limeageddon ? #limeshortage

— GatorMAB (@GatorMAB) May 2, 2014

Lime juice is now twice as expensive as tequila: http://t.co/la7SdmRPRM pic.twitter.com/lChDzBJb91

— Bloomberg (@business) May 2, 2014

There are some deniers.

@BloombergNews such a stupid crisis. White people problems…..

— Elias Ness (@eliasnmrk) May 2, 2014

Lime crisis or genius Cinco de Mayo marketing ploy? #limeshortage

— Geneva Ives (@hi_geneva) May 2, 2014

But the crisis is real.

🙁 pic.twitter.com/rLhEkVoAVr

— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) May 1, 2014

@TheStalwart Is that a lemon?

— Sydney Kramer (@CrepesofWrath) May 2, 2014

The Limepocalypse is upon us. My gin tonic is on life supprt. @MacCocktail #limeshortage

— Lynn Kittel (@MillCityGirl2) May 1, 2014

Sad guac. They want me to use lemons! LEMONS! It's not tea! #limeshortage pic.twitter.com/JlgLt9rDEy

— Casey Moeckel (@CMoecks) May 1, 2014

@CrepesofWrath @TheStalwart Try getting a lemon in your pad Thai #limeshortage

— Pamela Engel (@PamEngel12) May 2, 2014

The horror.

Bars and restaurants are being forced to take extreme measures

At Cane & Table, limes carry a surcharge these days. Wonder how others are handling, @TPrice504? #limeshortage pic.twitter.com/UYN2azXQfg

— chelsea brasted (@cabrasted) May 2, 2014

Bars and restaurants ask customers for help securing limes amid shortages. #Limeageddonhttp://t.co/xDOmPiFXQu pic.twitter.com/juzM6pt686

— ? Mathew Passy ? (@MathewPassy) April 25, 2014

http://instagram.com/p/neqZZ1wXNH/

On the other hand, if life gives you limes … hey wait, you son-of-a-bitch, get back here! Get him, you guys, he has limes! #limeshortage

— DannyMoe (@danmoser1961) May 2, 2014