Seventeen years have passed since the U.S. opened its borders to Mexican avocados and during this time it has achieved remarkable progress. The Mexican avocado production and industry have shown a level of maturity that has allowed it to overcome all of the quality, safety and residual challenges imposed by the international market.
Mexico exports about 50,000 tons of avocados per year to Japan, a country that is even more demanding in terms of residual pesticides than the United States. To do so, the country has introduced extraordinary measures to control the application of chemicals in orchards.
Recently, the country implemented a Pollution Risk Reduction System, which will be mandatory for all producers who wish to export. For the U.S. market, producers must register their orchards on the Integrated Harvest Information System site and, with the help of the local plant health service, must conduct chemical residue analysis using the Japanese standards.
Despite the fears that the avocado market would stagnate, consumption worldwide has been growing at a rate of 3% per year over the last five years; thanks, in part, to the campaigns about the avocado's great nutritional qualities. Meanwhile, the planted surface has only increased 2%, thus, profitability has increased for all global producers.
The prices of Mexican exports to the U.S. have increased $8 more than in the previous season. Currently, Mexican and Californian avocados have average prices of up to $38 dollars for a 25-pound box (11.3 kilos), which proves the business is and will continue to be profitable.
Contact:
LAE Celso Castillo
Sales Manager (Avocado Division)
Ofice: (452)528-0332 Ext.# 116
Fax: (452)528-2069
Mobile: (452)525-6322
celso@promegaupn.com