Despite the fact that avocado consumption is very popular, the current volume consumed per person in Europe remains smaller than in the United States, where an average of 5 kilos per person are estimated to be consumed each year.
However, the World Avocado Organization is optimistic about the increase in consumption in Europe, the second biggest market for this fruit in the world, and has foreseen that it will match that of the United States within eight years.
At the recent congress of the World Avocado Organization (WAO), held in Malaga, it has been reported that consumption is expected to go from 650,000 tons in 2018 to more than 1,100,000 this year. In fact, everything seems to indicate that in 2019, Europe's imports will surpass the 750,000 tons.
The WAO, which brings together producers from the world's leading avocado producing countries, including Peru, South Africa, Mexico and the United States, has set its sights on Spain with the aim of promoting consumption. Spain, despite being the EU's only avocado producer, has a per capita consumption of just 1.2 kilos (8 avocados per year weighing approximately 150 grams each). This is the lowest figure in any Western European countries.
The challenge in Spain is for avocados to become part of our daily diet, and not only an occasional ingredient for salads. With this objective in mind, the WAO plans to invest half a million Euro this year in different campaigns, starting in June (World Avocado Month). Some of these will be carried out in partnership with distribution chains such as Carrefour and Eroski. The Malaga-based companies that produce and market avocados, and which are part of the World Avocado Organization, such as Trops and Reyes Gutiérrez, perceive any action that helps promote consumption as a good move
According to the WAO, in 10 years, avocado consumption in Spain will have reached the same level as in France.
Source: diariosur.es