US: Light spot in otherwise heavy avocado market

The volume of avocados coming from Mexico has lightened up recently, though overall supplies for the season have been plentiful. There should be plenty of fruit for the run-up to Superbowl weekend as well as the spring months, since the burgeoning California season is expected to also bring good volumes.

“There are plenty of supplies out there, depending on what you're looking for,” said Gary Clevenger of Freska Produce. “There's been some rain down in Mexico, so there's a little gap in the supply chain, but it hasn't been to the extent where there's an under-supply. There's about a week and three days of avocados in the supply chain, so there's probably still an oversupply.” Prices per carton of Hass avocados have been in the mid-20s for the last several weeks, added Clevenger, which is lower than the $30.00 or so that shippers usually see this time of year. There could be a bump in prices when the California season begins, since California fruit usually commands better prices in the U.S.

“We don't know to what level prices will go up,” explained Clevenger, “because California is looking at a larger crop. We just have to wait and see how sizing comes out.”

Long known for its robust mango program, Clevenger noted that Freska has beefed up its avocado program as well. The addition of a California supplier means Freska will have plenty of avocados 12 months out of the year.

“This makes us a year-round supplier of avocados,” said Clevenger. “The California season runs from now until September, and Mexico is virtually year-round. So now we'll have a consistent program to support customers on a year-round basis.”

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Gary Clevenger