A lime shortage has caused fruit's prices to rise in restaurants and bars, putting owners in a frenzy.
According to AP, prices for a container of 200 limes have significantly increased to between $80 and $130 - compare that to last year's $15 increase.
The current lime shortage reportedly stems from 2001's citrus disease, which depleted the majority of groves in Florida. Drug cartel activity in Mexico has also prevented the fruit's delivery to the United States, the Associated Press reported.
The owner of Luna Park restaurant in Los Angeles told AP he has found it difficult to use a whole lime when making beverages such as margaritas, mojitos or Mai Tais.
"It's just one of those things that you take for granted. You never really think about it because it's always there," Peter Kohtz said.
Kohtz told AP he urged his bartenders to conserve, and draw the most juice from the lime possible.
"I tell the bartenders, 'Squeeze those limes extra hard. Squeeze out every drop you can,'" Kohtz said.
Although some restaurants are using lemons and oranges instead of limes, manager of Mexican restaurant El Coyote is not in favor of the switch.
"People want to see a lime in their margarita, and rightfully so," Wayne Christoffersen said. "A margarita's not a margarita without the lime."
One filmmaker who has had several margaritas at El Coyote could not see it any other way.
"The lime mixed with the tequila is just a winsome combination," Laura Bahr said. "Like peanut butter and jelly."
The crisis, dubbed the Great Green Citrus Crisis of 2014, has also affected the airline industry, particularly Alaska Airlines, which has discontinued using the fruit in beverages served on flights two weeks ago.
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