The Mexican Avocado Packers and Exporters company (Apeam) arrived in Colombia for an exploratory mission of the Colombian coffee region, from April 29 to May 6.
Procolombia and the regional investment promotion agencies of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio, and Valle del Cauca, came together to present the potential of the Colombian avocado sector for investments, business and exports, as well as cycles, logistics, and the crops' nature.
Apeam is a private non-profit association with more than 20 years of experience in the promotion of avocado exports, under the Avocados From Mexico brand. This internationally recognized association is the only Mexican cooperating partner of the USDA-APHIS and the United States for avocado exports.
Apeam, along with Procolombia and the regional agencies, will be able to meet with government entities to understand the agro-industrial offer that each department has.
In addition, they will visit avocado producing farms in each of the regions and the export infrastructure of the port of Buenaventura.
Opportunities
Hopefully, the Apeam will identify opportunities to develop businesses in the region, which can generate employment and exports for the country, as well as recognize the high cultural value that this area of Colombia has to offer.
The opportunities are given for the department that has seen an increase in avocado exports lately. During 2017, Risaralda's fresh and dried avocado exports amounted to US $11.4 million.
That is 43.4% more than in the previous year, according to information from Procolombia. The main destinations were the United Kingdom (US $ 5.5 million); Spain (US $ 1.3 million); The Netherlands (US $ 807,016); Belgium (US $ 330,385); and Germany (US $ 306,647).
In the first two months of this year, avocado exports increased by 180%, going from US $ 2.2 million to US $ 6.3 million.
The United Kingdom (US $ 3.2 million) was the main destination for Risaralda's avocado; followed by the Netherlands (US $ 2.2 million); Spain (US $ 745,481); Belgium (US $ 94,287) and France (US $ 44.6 million), all of which had positive variations when compared to the January-February 2017 bimonthly period.
Source: eldiario.com.co