Sergio Torres: “Great potential in Germany”

First Chilean avocados from Camposol Agricom Fresh

As per week 38 Camposol will market for the first time Chilean avocados. In the beginning of this year Camposol Agricom Fresh was founded which is the new alliance between Agricom and Camposol. According to Sergio Torres of Camposol the Peruvian avocado season has been really successful: “The season was very challenging because a new export record has been reached: Over 105.000 tons for the whole season of which 80% was destined for Europe. At this moment a new season has started for Camposol Agricom Fresh. Since the beginning of this year we have a new alliance with Agricom, a renowned Chilean exporter and the second largest exporter of avocado. Together we will commercialize different products to European supermarkets.” According to Sergio the European market is changing rapidly. “Retailers want to work more and more directly lines with growers which is a positive tendency for us.”

Almost year round avocado’s
Agricom and Camposol Fresh will benefit from the economies of scale and a higher yield on several areas. Their products are complimentary to each other but it “clicked” (found synergy) regarding the avocados. This way Agricom Camposol Fresh is able to produce year round, whilst the Peruvian season is from April until September. This is the first year of the cooperation and in week 38 the first avocado volumes from Chile are expected. The Chilean season runs until March. "We expect to grow even faster this way in Europe, especially in Germany where we see great potential as already several programs have started with German retailers. Besides Germany we see space for growth regarding avocados in Northern European markets."

Grapes popular in China
This year Camposol attended the Asia Fruit Logistica. "The Asian market has been growing fast since 2008 for Peruvian volumes exported," according to Sergio. "The exports of grapes to China is growing each year. The Peruvian grape is really popular during Chinese New year as these are often given as a gift. For avocados we see an important development in the future. At this moment the avocado is still a non common fruit in the Chinese menus so mainly international communities are use to eat them."

Author: Gertrude Snoei

Publication date: Thu 12 Sep 2013