When life doesn’t give you lemons

One of the most common side work tasks for restaurant servers across the South may be imperiled by the same economic uncertainty and climate upheaval that’s reshaping the national culinary landscape.

In short: Have you seen the price of lemons lately? Restaurant owners are acutely aware that lemons are retailing for $2 a pound, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or roughly double what the citrus commanded 20 years ago. Recent price spikes have been driven by a drought in Europe, heavy storms in Mexico, diseased trees in South America, and tariffs imposed by the U.S.