Israeli avocado season well under way

The Ettinger avocado season in Israel has finished by now. The season was quite average, there was an increase of 20 per cent in volume compared to last year, resulting in average prices of 6 to 6.50 euro during the last few weeks. “With other varieties, if the market is not good, you could split harvesting, no pressure. However, that is not the case for Ettinger. Picking of this type of avocado cannot be split, it has to be done before a certain date, because the fruit will spoil. So even when we see volumes are high, we cannot reduce them, we must continue to send the volumes through,” says Eitan Zvi from Galilee Export.

Pinkerton avocados

Pinkerton doing better
The Israeli Pinkerton season has started by now, and there is much demand, with prices around 8.50 euro per kilogram. This is an improvement compared to the Ettinger period. Supply and weather have been good so far. “Last year, we experienced huge shortages from mid-January to February. This year, supply will be a little more stable because we have a larger crop. But overall, we should not expect an enormous volume, and we do expect high prices” Zvi continues.

Hass avocados

Hass still most popular
A smaller volume of Hass was also started by Galilee Export. This is still the most popular avocado variety. Consumption in Europe consists of about 70 to 80 per cent Hass avocados. The remainder of consumption is greenskins such as Ettinger and Pinkerton. The largest markets for Hass are France, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Greenskins are mostly sent to Eastern Europe, Italy and Russia. “When markets are undeveloped, they tend to start with mostly unripened greenskins as those are cheaper. Once the market starts improving, people tend to be willing to pay more for avocados,” Zvi says. “As soon as the market gets to know avocados, they tend to switch to ripe Hass avocados.”

Chile and Mexico
Chile has not reduced its volume to Europe, programmes and prices in Europe were good. However, Chile has sent a large volume of Hass to the US in October, because of the Mexican strike. “They used quite a lot of ammunition to help out the US, I would say, and they have now finished for about 70 per cent. They might continue to supply Europe in January, but those volumes will not be large,” Zvi explains. “Mexico focuses on the US more than on Europe. They have a supply of 1.5 million tonnes per year, and they get better prices in the US, so why take the risk on Europe?”

French ripening facility
The ripening facility opened by Galilee Export in France a year and a half ago is doing very well. Programmes in France have increased thanks to the facility. “However, the only market supplied by that facility is the French market,” Zvi concludes.

For more information:
Eitan Zvi
Galilee Export
Tel: +972 365 390 14
eitan.z@galil-export.com
galilee-export.com