The avocado season on the island of Crete, Greece, is in full swing. Mr. Giorgos Kornarakis, sales director for avocados and citrus of the Agricultural Cooperative of Chania, describes the production situation as follows: "The product availability, especially in Fuerte, is limited compared to normal, but fortunately, the production losses from the adverse weather phenomena of last spring are not so extensive as initially assessed."
© Agricultural Cooperative of Chania
"The biggest problems appear in Zutano avocados, which, despite their medium to large sizes, present many pieces of second quality due to the muddy rains of May and June. No clean rain occurred later, so the fruits were left on the trees with mud, which harms their quality. Anyway, Zutano varieties will be over from mid-December. On the other hand, there are more fruits and of better quality in Bacon. As for Fuerte, though they were badly affected by the spring rainfalls, which resulted in limited fruit setting, the sizes are also medium to large. If they are managed properly, they can stay on trees until March," Mr. Kornarakis explains.
© Agricultural Cooperative of Chania
What concerns the executive of the Cretan cooperative is the competition coming from the Spanish product: "As long as grower prices stay above 2,00 euros/kg, we can be satisfied, but while last season grower prices in Crete began at 2,60 euros/kg, this time they began at 2,40 euros, only to fall later to 2,20-2,30, and are still finding difficulties as the Spanish product departs from the Netherlands at 1,60-1,70 euros and is being delivered at the Central Market of Athens at 1,90 euros. Accordingly, difficult is the situation in the Balkan markets as well.
© Agricultural Cooperative of Chania
"Even the Greek supermarkets started their shopping for Cretan avocados later than usual. Instead of starting in October, they started in November, and some of them in the third week of the month," Mr. Kornarakis stresses. As for the rest of the season, he is confident that in February, market conditions will improve. "In February, or maybe in late January, we will start harvesting Hass. We will have enough of them. Their sizes will be smaller, which means lower prices, but on the other hand, these sizes are mostly sought abroad. It is good for us that in February, there are only avocados from the Northern Hemisphere in the market. So, more room for our Hass," he concludes.
For more information:
Giorgos Kornarakis
Agricultural Cooperative of Chania
Tel: +30 28210 84830
Mob: +30 69732 39710
Email: [email protected]
www.chaniacoop.gr
