Avocado grower and exporter Grupo Bonella, based in São Paulo, Brazil, are keen to keep on growing their own exclusive Bonella avocado variety, which they say is gaining ground on the well-known Hass variety. "The price of the Bonella avocado is very similar to Hass. We are still starting work on expanding this variety, which we began harvesting recently," says Fernando Bonella, CEO of Grupo Bonella.
The Bonella avocado variety, marketed and branded as Avocado Green.
The company exports their fruit across Europe as well as to neighbouring countries. This includes Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia. "This year we will have an estimated volume of 8,000 tons of fruit produced. Our biggest volume is exported to Europe."
Their avocado and fruit production is not affected by the recent heavy rains and flooding that impacted large areas in the south of Brazil. "We were not affected by the rains and floods, as the affected area was in the south of the country and we are in the southeast of Brazil," states Bonella.
He says their company has a total of 3,000 hectares, with 1,680 hectares of avocado planted. "680 of this are Hass and an exclusive variety of avocado that we call Bonella, which we have the right to cultivate for 25 years with 1,000 hectares of tropical avocado planted. The remainder is divided between mango, pitaya (dragon fruit), coffee, lemon, oranges, ponka (citrus) and persimmon (Khaki)."
He describes their proprietary Bonella avocado variety as, "similar to Hass, but it has more nutrients in addition to being creamy. It has made a very positive impact on Brazil and the world. The Bonella variety was discovered by my father José Alcides Bonella, president of the Bonella Group. He found a tree 12 years ago, with a different avocado fruit in the middle of the coffee plantation. He then carried out a study and analysis and discovered this new variety, which is patented and rebranded as Bonella."
The company's Hass avocados.
The Bonella Group has a 52 history with growing fruit and avocados. The company was founded in 1969, and now in its third generation of ownership. "We are one of the largest traders and avocado fruit producers in the country. We focus on highly sustainable management, through our bio-factories, an organic composting site and a laboratory for pest and disease control. Our farms have all the necessary certifications - Global Gap, Grasp, Smeta and Rainforest - that prove our sustainable management and the differentiated work we do. In addition to these certifications, we are also recognized as an excellent company to work for through the GPTW (Great Place to Work) seal," concludes Bonella.
For more information:
Fernando Bonella
Grupo Bonella
Email: [email protected]
www.grupobonella.com