“Ever since we have started to ripe avocadoes ourselves we have increased our sales with supermarkets,” said Ely Keslassy of Galil Export. “But we can now get the best return for our growers, because we know exactly what the market price for our produce is, and we can sell directly to retail stores.” Thanks to that direct access, Galil can also take advantage of special promotions with supermarkets and sell to those retail stores additional products bought from growers without access to ripening facilities. Keslassy said they can also use the facility to ripen mangos.
“We now have arrangements with supermarkets to provide avocados year-round,” said Keslassy. “We'll get produce from all over the world, but we'll be sure to only get avocados from growers who we know meet high standards; we're just starting out with this program, so we can't afford to get anything but the best.” After supplies from Israel are exhausted, Galil will source avocados from Peru, then Kenya, South Africa, and, finally, from Chile, before waiting for the start of the next Israeli season.
Currently, Israeli growers have a few more weeks before supplies of Pinkerton avocados run out, then Galil will begin shipping Ardith variety. Those green varieties, along with Reed and Ettinger avocados, are popular in Israel, but, Keslassy admitted, global consumer tastes have skewed more toward the Hass. Plantings of Hass avocados make up about 60 percent of Israel's crop.
Current prices are good, noted Keslassy, with a four-kilogam carton of ripened avocados currently going for between 12.00 and 13.00 euros. A carton of unripened avocados is currently selling for 11 euros.“The smaller fruit is not having so good prices,” said Keslassy. “For sizes from 14 to 20, prices are good, but not so for sizes 24 and 26.”
For more information:
Ely Keslassy
Galilee Export
Tel: +33146879452
Mob:+33.7.86.53.91.43
ely@galil-export.com
galilee-export.com