Over the past five years, avocados have become "the most important emerging crop in the province of Alicante, mostly due to the high price per kilo paid at origin, and they have already replaced 80% of the citrus in the Marina Baixa," according to the Association of Young Agricultural Producers (Asaja) of Alicante.
The average price at origin of this tropical fruit amounts to around 2 Euro per kilo, although the largest calibres "can reach 3 Euro," affirms a statement from Asaja Alicante.
"Its high price at origin has turned it into the best alternative to citrus in the Marina Baixa region, where it has already replaced 80% of the orange and lemon plantations," he points out.
Sources of Asaja Alicante have highlighted that avocados "have managed to attract young growers who are just starting with agriculture or who want to continue cultivating the lands of their parents."
Some producers call it "the golden tree" because of the profitability it guarantees and because it is a crop that does not require excessive care.
For 2017, the fruit's total production is expected to amount to about 600,000 kilos; 50% more than in 2016 (400,000 kilos).
This is "a really high figure, taking into account that, ten years ago, the production amounted to just 50,000 kilos, and also that about 10% and 15% of this year's harvest has been lost due to the wind and snow storms recorded last January," reports Asaja Alicante.
One of the most positive aspects of the avocado, which has "seduced" many producers, is that "it allows for a staggered harvest during its production cycle, which runs from December to April," points out the press release.
"This means that the fruit remains in optimum condition in the tree from the start until the end of the harvesting season, allowing the producer to play with the market and harvest the fruit when the best prices are paid," they add.
Likewise, according to Asaja Alicante, "this is a tree that does not require great care, nor is the harvest especially laborious."
Source: EFE
