Spanish avocado is currently dominating European markets, although it will soon be replaced by the Peruvian and Colombian avocado, as their availability increases.
"In February Spanish avocado sales were slow. This year sales of the Spanish product will end sooner because there was a little less production and strong winds knocked down a lot of fruit in January," stated Jose Antonio Alconchel, the manager of Alcoaxarquia, a producer and marketer of subtropical, exotic, and citrus fruits in Malaga and Peru. “Sales seem to fluctuate more and more due to the influence of the coronavirus. There are days in which there are hardly any sales and other days in which we sell twice as much as usual. However, the average volume sold and prices achieved are similar every week,” he added.
The first Peruvian organic avocados of this season will arrive in Europe in week 12. “This year we expect to increase our volumes by 40% reaching 300 containers of Peruvian avocado, as new farms that have acquired certification have entered production. Since we opened our Alcoaxarquia Peru subsidiary and have our own production there, we have grown in volumes and in business. We have taken our know-how to Peru and we have been able to maintain the same quality parameters that we use for the avocado in Malaga. Our customers are very happy and they ask us for more every year,” says Jose Antonio Alconchel.
80% of Alcoaxarquia's production is organic. The avocados produced in Spain are mainly destined to European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Eastern countries. The Peruvian avocado is also sent to the United States, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Chile. "Trade was strongly affected in Southeast Asia because of the coronavirus. However, the markets seem to be gradually reopening," said Jose Antonio Alconchel.
One of the first Spanish subtropical companies to depend on solar energy
The Malaga company has become one of the first companies in the subtropical fruit sector in Spain to depend on 100% renewable energy.
“On February 20, the photovoltaic installations began to operate to supply our entire plant with around 120,600 kW. We invested more than 650,000 euro this last year to have a more sustainable production and marketing by adapting the packaging machinery for bio-compostable materials and by transitioning to renewable energy. We are completely committed to sustainability, from the cultivation of organic products to their handling and packaging,” said Jose Antonio Alconchel.
For more information:
Jose Antonio Alconchel
Alcoaxarquía
M: +34 607396517
T: +34 951 33 39 34
joseantonio@alcoaxarquia.es
www.alcoaxarquia.com