“Mexico is just beginning its avocado season. Peru’s is tapering off and we should see our supply from Peru stop within the next three weeks,” said Scott Varvel of Custom-Ripe Avocado Company. As far as the Mexican avocados go, they’re just beginning their early bloom or Flora Loca season. It’ll be about a month before we start seeing those arrive here in the U.S., which should help to bring down those high prices.”
The demand for imported avocados is high. The prices are also high. “Mexican growers have been getting too much rain, which isn’t good. The harvesters can’t get into the fields to pick the fruit, which is slowing the process down,” said Varvel.
In May 2016, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health In-spection Service (APHIS) instituted a new rule that will, over the next several years, al-low avocados grown in any state in Mexico to be imported into the U.S. According to the California Avocado Growers Association, this new rule went into effect on June 27, 2016—but its impact won’t be fully evident for several years.
Mexican growers who want to take advantage of this new rule are now able to apply for certification. APHIS will be giving certification to farmers a few at a time, rather than all at once. Because APHIS wanted to ensure that all shipments of Mexican avocados were pest-free, it decided to be cautious in granting certifications to Mexican growers.
This gradual increase in the numbers of imported avocados means that, within the next several years, the supply of Mexican avocados will greatly increase, eventually allow-ing up to 100 million pounds of avocados into the U.S. Jalisco’s growing season is long-er than that of California’s, which gives it an advantage.
Contact:
Scott Varvel
CustomRipe Avocado Co.
Tel: 602-253-1530