US economy and Mexican avocados

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Alan Johnston introduces personal stories and insight from correspondents around the world. In this edition Lesley Curwen meets an American family struggling with America's economic woes and Julian Miglierini explains how and why the rocketing prices for avocados in Mexico became such an important issue in the country. Employed but still struggling It's emerged that last month, no new jobs were created in the United States. It's reckoned that there are now 14 million unemployed Americans. And then there are countless people who may still have jobs, but who've been forced to cope with severe money worries. Lesley Curwen has been spending time with one hard-working family that's struggled to find its way in the financial gloom. Mexico's avocado crisis The soil and the climate of central Mexico seem to be just perfect for growing avocado trees. They've been bearing fruit there since the dawn of time or at least, long enough for Mexicans to develop a huge appetite for them. They're a big part of the national cuisine. And that made it all the more serious when, just recently as Julian Miglierini explains, there was a sudden avocado supply crisis in Mexico City.