AU: Avocado prices soar
Sydney Markets figures show high-grade Hass avocados achieving up to $55 a carton for July, averaging about $46, with other lines achieving similar averages over the $40/carton mark.
The prices have been sustained for several weeks now, even up on last year's average at this time of year of about $36/carton.
A decade ago, such figures were the stuff of dreams.
Markets figures show cartons of top-line Hass averaging about $20 with the lowest quality achieving just $13.
The trajectory to improved returns has not been an overnight rocket, says Antony Allen, president of the International Avocado Society and former Avocados Australia CEO.
"It's been building for the past 10 to 15 years, he said. "There have been ups and downs in that past decade but it has been a steady increase."
He puts it down to a considerable amount of hard work and collaboration between growers, marketers and researchers.
"Nothing comes from nothing. We've been doing product positioning for a long time and built up the brand's presence," Mr Allen said. "Avocado growers have backed themselves and are now enjoying elevated grower returns."
Mr Allen is now the CEO of the co-operative marketing group, The Avolution, which provides avocados year round.
Some of those down times included an oversupply in September and October 2011 when prices dropped to between $9 and $14/carton.
Mr Allen said this prompted many within the industry to rethink their businesses; that thinking had continued to steady the ship.
"Nobody is resting on their laurels. We need to manage it carefully when looking at a good sustainable position, we need to keep it flowing and take a careful approach," he said.
Part of that positioning has been to show the versatility of the fruit.
There are few fresh vegetables or fruit that can feel at home at breakfast as much as they do at supper.
Source: www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au
