While U.S. demand for avocados continues to rise, demand is also growing outside of the country that is the largest consumer of the popular fruit.
Avocados Aguirre SA de CV is currently in production with its Mendez avocado, a variety of the Hass avocado that’s grown in Jalisco, Mexico along with the traditional Hass. Given that out of Mexico only avocados grown in Michoacán can head to the U.S.--approximately 85 percent of Mexico’s total avocado production goes to the U.S.--Jalisco-grown fruit is destined for long-transit shipments and heads to Europe largely, but also Canada, South America, Japan and Hong Kong.
Juan Escorcia (above) of Avocados Aguirre says demand for avocados is higher than last year at this time.
“As of right now we have about 60 percent of the crop still and the main markets bringing in the Mendez are Hong Kong, Japan and Canada,” says Juan Escorcia of Avocados Aguirre, who adds that it also has year-round fruit in Michoacán. “Demand is a bit more compared to last year at this time. Every year there’s more and more demand for avocado and demand continues to increase because people want to take care of themselves and eat healthier, especially in Europe and countries like Japan where older generations are interested in taking care of themselves.”
More online purchasing
While healthy eating is helping drive avocado consumption, distribution opportunities also factor in the increasing demand. “Before, people were going out to a store or a wholesale market to pick up produce. Now a lot of it is also online purchasing,” says Escorcia.
Of course more demand means more plantings that continue to be added throughout Mexico.
Escorcia says that continued strong demand for avocados means more and more avocado trees are being planted in Mexico.
All of this means pricing looks to be stronger this year on Mendez avocados, thanks in part to more certainty in the marketplace compared to this point last year. “There was a bit of a slowdown last year and it decreased price. Between May and August of last year prices dropped because you still had the same level of production but a lot of uncertainty around the world,” says Escorcia. “As of now, we’re shipping a six kilo box of avocados for $18 to Japan for example. Last year it was around $3-$4 below that in this window.” He notes that as the world moved through the pandemic and certainty was slowly regaining, the crop moved fast and pricing picked up.
Looking ahead, while Avocados Aguirre continues shipping avocados to Japan and Canada year-round, it’s currently preparing to begin shipments to Europe which will start in August and go through to January/February. Escorcia notes that larger-consuming countries of avocados in Europe are Spain, France, England and the Netherlands.
For more information:
Juan Escorcia
Avocados Aguirre SA de CV
Tel: +1 (619) 365 7694
jescorcia@avocadosaguirre.com
www.avocadosaguirre.com