In order to identify business opportunities that generate employment and exports, ProColombia invited 25 members of the Association of Producers, Packers and Exporters of Avocado of Mexico (APEAM) to the country to evaluate the potential of the avocado sector.
The Mexican producers, the only Cooperating Partner recognized by the USDA and SAGARPA, visited the regions of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, QuindÃo and Valle del Cauca for a week to validate the offer.
ProColombia and the regional investment promotion agencies of the aforementioned areas worked together to showcase the potential of the Colombian avocado sector for investments, business, and exports. In addition to exposing cycles, logistics, and crops.
"We have cultivable areas with high growth potential in different regions of the national territory and possibilities to meet the high demand in international markets," assured the president of ProColombia, Felipe Jaramillo.
Colombia made its first shipment of Hass avocados to the United States in November 2017, marking the beginning of exports of the product to that market. The Colombian authorities expect to export 1,000 tons during the first year.
According to Jaramillo, avocado is an opportunity for investors from Mexico and other parts of the world to invest in Colombia, which is a suitable location to produce this crop and a competitive export hub.
Apeam is a private non-profit association with more than 20 years of experience in the promotion of avocado in other countries of the world under the Avocados From Mexico brand. It is internationally recognized, as it is the only Mexican cooperating partner with USDA-APHIS and the United States for the export of avocado.
The work agenda included the cities of Medellin, Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Buenaventura, Cali and surroundings, where Mexican producers and Colombian authorities held meetings with government entities to learn more about the agroindustrial sector of each department.
Additionally, the Mexican delegation visited avocado producing farms in each of the regions and learned about the export infrastructure of the port of Buenaventura.
Source: ProColombia