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And 2019 is an off year for many avoca- do-growing regions, including Peru, California and South Africa, according to Xavier Equihua, chief executive of the Peruvian Avocado Commission in Washington, DC.
“Peru will ship more than 60 percent of its exports to the EU this year, followed by the United States, which should receive anywhere between 160 million to 180 million, or even up to 200 million [pounds],” says Equihua. “This, of course, will be determined by market condi- tions.”
Peru is the leading avocado supplier for the fast-growing European market, but long ago the industry recognized a need to find new market outlets for its aggressively expanding plantings.
“With the demand continuing to grow in North America, Peru knew it could capitalize on the opportunity and help meet that demand with its growing supply,” says Jim Donovan, senior vice president of global sourcing of Mission Produce. “Peru will continue to grow as a source, but in the future, we will potentially see the trajectory of demand come from the Asian countries.”
Enrique Camet, managing director of Camet Trading based in Lima, Peru, provides a few examples of his company seeing export growth opportunities.
“While we already export to various parts of the world, with major customers on all five continents, we have been focused on developing the new Asian markets — China, Japan, India and soon, South Korea — as well as increasing our participation in the North American markets,” he says. “We expect to continue to increase our participation in these markets in 2019.”
WHAT MAKES PERUVIAN AVOCADOS DIFFERENT?
Crane of Eco Farms says Peru has tended to have larger-sized fruit than other origins, but the supply deal is now getting more in line with market demand.
“Especially in the first few years that was very evident, but it appears the majority of growers are starting to have a more normal- sized curve with more balanced sizes, and I think that’s going to be beneficial for them for sure,” he says.
Equihua of the Peruvian Avocado Commis- sion says, however, that not all Peruvian fruit is big and will have a good mix of sizes.
“Sizes vary depending on the retailer and market conditions. For example, Costco prefers large fruit, as do Texan retailers,” he says.
fruit is slightly different than other origins from a skin perspective, but not in terms of quality.
“Peru has a thicker, bumpier skin due to climate conditions,” she says. “Dry matter is always a matter of seasonality, not origin, which is a misconception by most. Early-season fruit from any source tends to have lower dry matter. As the season increases, so does the dry matter.”
Camet supports this view and notes there should be no differences in the taste of Peruvian avocados compared with other origins.
“Regarding color, Hass avocados from Peru
tend to ripen with a purple coloration,” he says. Mission Produce’s Junqueiro says most Peruvian avocados arrive on the East Coast of the United States, with the West Coast still having a strong appetite for California and
Mexican fruit.
Her colleague, Donovan, says any expansion
of the Panama Canal and new ports in Peru will have a positive impact on business, but in reality, success has more to do with demand driven by the popularity of avocados.
Eco Farms’ Crane says Mexico’s proximity
Mission Produce’s Junqueiro says Peruvian
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