Organic Ecuadorian Hass avocado has reached Russia for the first time, according to the Agency for Regulation and Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Control (Agrocalidad). Uyamafarms and LatBio S.A. made the initial shipments, which Agrocalidad called "an achievement resulting from the collaborative efforts of producers, technicians, and partners."
This milestone occurs amid robust growth in Ecuador's organic sector. In 2024, it generated over $ 621 million, making Ecuador the leading exporter of organic products to the European Union and the second-largest globally, behind Mexico, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAGP) and Agrocalidad.
According to the European Commission's Analytical Brief No. 7 (May 2025), Ecuador is the EU's top organic product supplier for the fifth consecutive year.
The FiBL Institute's report, The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2025, also ranks the country as the world's second organic product exporter, with 665,483 metric tons exported, 96% of which are bananas.
"Ecuador has reached this level because of a national system of control, surveillance, and organic certification based on current regulations. This system ensures product traceability, safety, integrity, and quality. Adhering to international standards enables Ecuadorian organic products to gain recognition and acceptance in global markets," stated Verónica Santillán, director of Organics at Agrocalidad.
In 2024, organic exports accounted for 2.5% of the country's non-oil exports and supported 54,063 producers.
Ecuador currently has 78,156 certified hectares and 8,641 registered organic producers across various categories: Agriculture, livestock, beekeeping, processing, harvesting, and marketing. Among them, 1,024 operate individually, while 7,709 are part of associations, federations, or corporations recorded in 92 collective registers. Notably, 89.21% of these organic producers are from peasant family farms, demonstrating that small-scale farmers can also meet the international export standards.
The primary organic exports consist of bananas, banana puree and chips, broccoli, mango, cocoa, palm oil, processed fruits, shrimp, coffee, panela, and chocolate, among others. The leading markets are the United States (64.7%), the European Union (32%), Japan (0.6%), and 28 other countries (2.7%).
Approximately 70 per cent of the country's organic production area is concentrated in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Esmeraldas, and Napo.
Source: eluniverso.com
