Within a few years, the avocado has made a giant leap. While in 2008 not even 20,000 tons of the fruit were imported, that volume has now increased almost fivefold. The most important export countries for avocados for the German market are the South American countries Peru and Chile, which are over ten thousand kilometres away - in 2018 these two countries accounted for almost 50 percent of global exports. With the natural hero organic avocados from Spain, PENNY is setting an example, striving for more sustainability, because the significantly shorter transport route automatically means less environmental pollution, for example in terms of CO2.
Within the framework of the project "Organic heroes don't have to travel far", PENNY is now marketing avocados from selected organic farmers of a producer association for the first time, which places special emphasis on their biodiversity in its production. Therefore, the available quantities are limited.
These natural-source organic hero avocados will be available from 27 January 2020 in all 2,200 PENNY markets while stocks last. In the course of the year, other exotic favourites of customers will follow with passion fruit and mangoes in organic quality and with shorter transport distances.
Actively supporting sustainability
"Our producer association in Spain consists of medium-sized organic farms which, in addition to sustainable cultivation, save water and energy or plant greenery in a bee-friendly way. Due to the shorter transport route, the organic fruits can also ripen longer on the tree and thus develop an intensive aroma. We are convinced that our customers will actively support us in our efforts to achieve more sustainability," says Patricia Brunn, PENNY's Head of the Ultra Fresh Division - Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers, Plants.
One of these producers is José Martínez Cortés. He has been growing avocados and mangoes on his finca near Vélez-Málaga with two employees since 1996. With organic production, biodiversity has returned. Birds such as thrushes, sparrows, pigeons and goldfinches fly among the trees. Partridges, foxes, badgers and wild boars regularly roam the 2.2 hectare cultivated area. "We produce with and not at the expense of nature. We profit from this harmony as much as the flora and fauna. I am firmly convinced that PENNY customers will understand that we can therefore only offer these fruits seasonally," says José Martínez Cortés, who lives with his family in the immediate vicinity of his avocado grove.
For more information: www.penny.de