According to an analysis carried out by Confidencial Digital based on the products marketed in Mercamadrid, Spain's biggest wholesale market and a reference in Europe, this market went from selling 3,075,105 kilos of avocado in 2012 to 45,885,295 kilos last year. This means that avocado consumption increased by 1,392% in a decade.
According to the data available, avocado consumption skyrocketed in 2017 and has not stopped growing to date.
The upward trend already started to become apparent between 2012 and 2013. Spanish growers saw avocado as a major source of income and many chose this type of crop over cherimoyas and medlars, two other subtropical fruits with a long tradition in Spain.
Andres Gongora, head of Fruit and Vegetables at COAG, says that cherimoyas and medlars used to be common crops in the provinces of Granada and Almeria, especially cherimoyas, but that the golden age for those fruits is now over. "Firstly, they are difficult crops to grow, especially cherimoyas. Secondly, they have a very short season. Finally, because consumption has stagnated both in Spain and France -the country to which a large part of the production was exported- prospects don't look good."
Peru remains the main supplier of avocados on the peninsula, accounting for 52.92% of the avocado marketed in Mercamadrid.
Mango
Mango is the second fastest-growing subtropical fruit in terms of consumption: sales increased by 1,212% in the past decade, from 2,244,003 kg in 2012 to 29,446,748 kg last year.
Peru is also the most important supplier here.
Source: elconfidencialdigital.com