Avocados are not all the same - the best varieties must be chosen and harvested at the right time. In addition, they need to reach their destination markets quite quickly. That is why specialised companies are needed.
FreshPlaza Italy met with Frutas Montosa, the leading avocado supplier in Europe, at Fruit Attraction in Madrid.
The first thing that struck us was how different their avocados are from Italian ones - the ones sold in Italian supermarkets are big and green: they might be nice to look at, but are not so nice to eat.
Hass avocados by Frutas Montosa.
Hass avocados are the most prestigious variety and, although their colour might not be very inviting, you would have to try it to understand how good it tastes!
In addition, Frutas Montosa can supply fruit that is ready-to-eat, i.e. it is perfectly ripe.
Company managers told FreshPlaza that "in addition to agronomic checks on field, we carry out ripening tests every week. In addition, we have equipment that helps us select the best fruit through a non-standardised process, as every batch has its own characteristics."
Such procedure is also customised according to the needs of clients, as "grade 2 ripening, for example, does not mean the same for the French and for the Germans."
France is the main buyer
Frutas Montosa is located in the Costa del Sol in Malaga, a sub-tropical area perfect to grow avocados. Fruit is produced the whole year round, and the company handles 25,000 tons per year, mostly of the Hass variety (80%).
The processing facility covers 76,000 sq m, 16,000 of which are of processing lines.
"Our main market is France, followed by Spain and Germany. We only send a few limited quantities of organic produce to Italy, which is though re-exported elsewhere."
Aztec news
The latest product that entered the range of the Spanish company is a fresh-cut product that was also exposed at Fruit attraction - fresh guacamole, the popular Mexican sauce (of Aztec origin!) made with avocados, limes, onions and black pepper.
The latest product that entered the range of the Spanish company is a fresh-cut product that was also exposed at Fruit attraction - fresh guacamole, the popular Mexican sauce (of Aztec origin!) made with avocados, limes, onions and black pepper.
It is not very easy to make, so much so that the company uses special machinery and production is carried out in a controlled atmosphere environment.
Fresh guacamole.
We have had the chance to taste it in Madrid, and we can definitely say that you don't know what you're missing!
Contacts:Frutas Montosa
Finca El Molino s.n.
29792 Valle-Niza (Màlaga) - Spain
Tel.: +34 952 515002
Fax: +34 952 514519
Nathalie Quarantelli
Sales manager
Email: nathalie@frutasmontosa.com
Mob.: +34 628 762163