Mangoes Become a Life-Saving Fruit Amid Venezuela’s Political Crisis

People call them ‘the noise takers’ for quietening hunger pangs

Food shortages, extremely high inflation, and an ongoing political crisis continue to wreak havoc in Venezuela, but as NPR reports, the country’s mango trees are providing one source of relief. The country is in a prime climate for growing mangoes, and trees usually yield fruit for one month, three times a year.

NPR spoke to a variety of Venezuelans who rely heavily on mangoes to supplement their diets. One person called them “the real humanitarian aid” during a time when 90 percent of Venezuelan families don’t have funds for food.

And in other news...

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• In other faux-meat news, Ikea is looking to create a new vegetarian meatball. [CNN]
• On the Atlantic coast of France, conservationists are concerned that fishing trawlers keep accidentally catching dolphins in their nets. [NYT]
• Despite the fact that Congress ruled pizza to be a vegetable back in 2011 (at least in the context of school meals), it seems that the food in school cafeterias is generally getting more nutritious, thanks in part to Michelle Obama’s campaigning on the issue. [New Food Economy]
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• What are the consumer masses using to fill the void today? These very popular plastic color-changing Starbucks cups. [Business Insider]
• An Ohio woman attempted to get out of a drink driving charge by claiming that the Taco Bell nachos she had were making her drive erratically. [Cleveland.com]

• All AM Intel Coverage [E]