Growing regions are transitioning for Hass avocado supply into Canada. "Right now we're in Michoacan harvesting late-crop avocados. These have a really high oil content because they've been on the trees the longest," says Brian Boccia of TSI Tropicals. "So they're arriving really dark and full of oil and the texture is almost a butter consistency with a deep yellow-green color inside."
He says each year, it tries to prolong this part of the season because "it's the best avocado you'll have all year long," he says, adding that customers like the extended availability of the fruit. "We don't want to go into the new crop of avocados as early as the rest." That new crop is the "loca" or "crazy fruit" and the ripening of that fruit can be uneven.
Shipping regions
As for supply into Canada, it's largely from Mexico though there is some Peruvian fruit as well and some California avocados too. "The sizing from Michoacan is mostly large avocados and we're struggling to get any small avocados because the fruit has all sized up," Boccia adds, which ships across Canada under its Lucky 7 ready-to-eat avocado brand. The company also recently launched a new website for the brand.
Meanwhile, the demand is at its strongest right now in the season for Hass avocados. It's anticipated to soften somewhat as the new crop comes on and ripening can take longer.
As for pricing, it's comparable to this time last year and this is also the time of year that pricing goes up because the demand is there on a tighter supply of avocados. "We're on par with last year. Two years ago a case of avocados went for over $100CDN and right now we're at about $80," adds Boccia.
For more information:
Brian Boccia
TSI Tropicals
Tel: +1 (416) 251-8000
[email protected]
https://tsitropicals.com/
https://www.lucky7avocado.com/
