Mexico: Avocado exports increased thanks to the Super Bowl

Mexico exported a historical record high of 438,000 tons of avocado to the United States between July 2014 and February 20 2015, 35% more than in the same period of the previous year, said Jose Armando Lopez Orduña, general director of the Mexican Association of Producers, Packers and Exporters of Avocado (APEAM).

"We expect to ship a total of 680,000 tons by the end of the season, June 30, achieving a record“, he said.

The industry representative acknowledged that the Super Bowl had had an impact on the increase in shipments and that they had sent 67,000 tons of avocado to the U.S. in the weeks before the event.

"The Mexican fruit is well positioned in America because there is an agency responsible for designing the promotional strategies throughout the year both in the Hispanic market and in the US," he said. "Eight out of every ten avocados sold in the United States are Mexican," said the interviewee.

Lopez Orduña said shipments had also been larger because of the number of hectares planted with avocado and the increase in performance. Currently, there are 90,000 hectares certified for export to the United States.

Michoacan is the largest exporter of avocados to the United States. Starting next April Jalisco could be authorized to export to the U.S. following the public consultation carried out in that country.

Jalisco has between 5,000 and 6,000 hectares producing avocados, which are sent to destinations such as Japan, Canada, Europe and even Asia.

Another attractive market for the sector is Japan, with shipments of 40,000 tons per year. The most important market for avocado exporters is the US, followed by Japan, Canada, Europe and Central America.

Lopez Orduña said they currently sent avocados to Hong Kong and that they had begun to venture to China, "we have to promote the consumption of avocado in China, because many people do not know how to consume it."

Source: dineroenimagen.com