The avocado from Jalisco has become relevant internationally, so much so that 2015 is expected to be the breakout year for this agricultural product, especially concerning exports to the US.
According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), avocado exports in 2014 amounted to 27,500 tons worth $73.8 million dollars, while in 2013 they amounted to 18,093 tons worth $34.7 million dollars.
The state of Jalisco has about 15,000 hectares planted with avocado, 5000 of which are in production. "They are young hectares, which means there will be a significant increase in production because each tree is growing and they still haven't reached adulthood. Additionally, new plantations are incorporated to the production, so there really is a significant increase that varies much from year to year," said Hector Padilla Gutierrez, head of Rural Development (Seder).
According to figures from Jalisco's Association of Avocado Producers and Exporters, the 15,000 hectares planted produce an average of 90,000 tons per year, but only 5,000 of them are in production and the remaining 10,000 are young plantations.
Nationally, the state of Michoacan, which has 115,000 hectares in production, began a production and marketing strategy. The main avocado producing municipalities in Michoacán are: Uruapan, Tancítaro, Peribán, Tacambaro, Ario de Rosales, Salvador Escalante, San Juan Nuevo, Tingüindín, Los Reyes, Tingambato and Zitacuaro.
Jalisco producers have taken techniques from Michoacan and countries such as Chile and Peru, and have managed to incorporate advanced technology into their production, which allows them to have a better production standard.
"The producers from Jalisco are the best producers because of the volume and quality they have per hectare. They manage to get up to twice what Michoacán harvests and up to three times what the Chileans and Peruvians harvest. Additionally their harvest period is much longer than in Michoacan because of the level of technology they use, their water management, and the amount of trees per hectare, which is awesome."
The hectares of Jalisco have up to 600 plants per hectare while the hectares of Michoacan have 150 plants. Thus, expectations are that Jalisco will market a much higher volume than Michoacan, or other countries in the world, within three years.
Avocado production has had a major boost. In 2009 there were only 5,402.88 hectares devoted to this crop and the production amounted to 15,381.43 tons worth $189.06 million pesos. In contrast, in 2014 there were 14,976 hectares and production amounted to 100,248.73 tons worth $1,394,65 million pesos.
Sustainable production
Following the worldwide trend towards the protection and conservation of natural resources, Jalisco has also boosted the management of organic avocado orchards, where there is an emphasis on the enrichment of agricultural soils, the appropriate use of irrigation water and the almost total reduction in the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
The delegate of SAGARPA stated that, "estimates are that there are currently 23.8 hectares in production with a total of 9,520 trees, representing a total production of 1,680 tons, all for export, which generates 40 jobs."
Avocado for the world
In 2014, the country's avocado harvest amounted to 1,100,000 tons of fruit, i.e. more than 50 percent of world's output, which was nearly 2,100,000 tons. Benjamin Grayeb Ruiz, president of the National Agricultural Council (CNA), said the United States was the largest buyer of Mexican Hass avocados, with 600,000 tons in 2014 and a net value of 1.300 billion dollars.
The challenge at the national level for the CNA is to grow by 5 percent and increase its presence in exotic international markets such as China and Korea. The president of the CNA also said they would focus on decreasing the 30 percent tax that China charges on avocados.
Top avocado producing municipalities in Jalisco
Zapotlán el Grande; 2381.12 hectares; 20,953.85 tons obtained.
Tamazula de Gordian; 727 hectares; 7715.30 tons obtained.
Tapalpa; 682 hectares; 6,888.20 tons obtained.
Concepción de Buenos Aires; 897.34 hectares; 6,591.92 tons obtained.
Zapoltiltic; 577.6 hectares; 6,180.32 tons obtained.
Source: Monitoreconomico.org