“The avocado market is currently in a transition phase. The avocado season is nearing its end in Spain, Israel, Morocco, and Chile. We are now waiting for the large volumes from Peru. Due to the transition phase, the market is under-supplied. Prices are on the high side. This makes these weeks quite challenging for avocados," says Evy van Gastel of the Belgian company, Special Fruit.
“There is already some Peruvian volume on the market. We are, however, expecting the large volumes within a week. The Peruvian avocados that are on the market now come from the highlands. They have a low dry matter content. To guarantee good ripening, we need 23% dry matter."
Evy van Gastel
Finding a healthy balance
According to reports, Peru is expecting to have 10 to 15% fewer avocados than last year. "Lower volumes are expected this year, despite the new areas coming into production. There are also other countries of origin, besides Peru, that will soon come onto the European market."
"Colombia has produced more avocados than before. Africa is also well represented with Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. The first South African avocados are already on the market. In the coming months, a healthy balance between all these countries of origin will have to be found," says Evy.
There is currently very little overlap between the cultivation areas' transition. Yet, every year, each country of origin has higher volumes on the market. "As a result, the countries of origin's supplies get exhausted less quickly."
"Colombia is becoming an increasingly important country for the production of avocados. Other South American. African, and Southern European countries are, however, also investing more in avocados. Many mango growers are also switching to avocado cultivation. It is a product that many people see a future in," Evy concludes.
For more information:
Evy van Gastel
Special Fruit
36 Europa Street
2321 Meer - Belgium
+32 (0) 333 01 792
+32 (0) 331 50 843
evy@specialfruit.be
www.specialfruit.be