As production prepares to move to the cooler parts of Michoacán, Mexico, there’s hope that there’ll be an increasing availability on some of the more average sizes of avocados.
“In the last two to three weeks, there are a lot of supplies from Mexico. But the issue is the sizes. You can’t find big sizes of avocados,” says Jorge Mardones of OTC Produce LLC. based in McAllen, Tex. “Sixty percent of the crop are 48s, the average size. But it’s hard to get a full load of them because they’re trying to push the small sizes too.”
Mardones says the lack of availability in the 48 sizes could simply be the production cycle and the fact that there is plenty of production in Mexico currently. “We’re in the middle of the season so the orchards are trying to pick very fast,” says Mardones. “The hot areas of Michoacan have the first harvest and they started in September. They’ll change at the end of November to a cooler region so they have to clean the orchard of all the sizes. They can’t wait much more so they’re picking and trying to sell everything.”
Demand challenges
While demand continues to be good for avocados, it is, not surprisingly, particularly good for the size 48s avocados, though overall pricing seems to be more even this season. Mardones notes that the 40s are $34-$36/box; 48s are $35; 60s are $23; 70s at $19; 85s are at $14-$16. “One or two months ago, there were plenty of 48s and it was easy to get a full load of them,” says Mardones. “One month ago, the 60s were very difficult to get and now there are plenty of 60s, 70s and 84s.”
That said, when the production does move to the new region, it’s expected there’ll be more availability on sizes such as the 48s.
For more information:
Jorge Mardones
OTC Produce LLC
Tel: +1 (956) 651-4501
jmardones@otcproduce.com