Page 46 - Index

46 / SEP TEMBER 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSION PRODUCE
Mission Produce teamed up with Hazel Technologies on Avolast, a 1-MCP technology that reduces respiration rates and increases resistance to ethylene in its avocado shipments.
expected to be normal this fall. Peter Leifer- mann, vice president of sales and marketing for Brooks Tropicals, Homestead, FL, notes that as the volume of Florida fruit begins to recede in September, fruit from the Domin- ican Republic becomes more available by late October. Fruit size varies throughout the fall.
According to Liefermann, “Florida fruit size in September is generally even larger than it is during the summer months. Dominican fruit begins with small-to-medium avocados.” Brooks markets approximately 20 total and 10 main varieties over the course of the year, including its best-known SlimCado.
e SlimCado has up to half the fat of and a third fewer calories than the Hass avocado. “ e most signi cant way consumers identify SlimCados, besides the label, is by their huge size — they average more than a pound and a half per piece,” says Liefermann. “ e two main varieties change color from green to reddish and black as they ripen.” He suggests the sheer size of SlimCados lends itself to larger displays.
Optimal handling at retail helps retain avocado quality in any season. Mission Produce recently partnered with Hazel Technologies, Salinas, CA, to include Avolast, a 1-MCP technology that conditions the storage atmo- sphere to reduce respiration rate and increase resistance to ethylene in its avocado shipments. “As the season progresses, avocado dry matter will increase, and days of shelf life will decrease because fruit ripens faster,” explains Anazawa. “So Avolast is especially bene cial in extending shelf-life and maintaining internal quality.”
THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS
“Although demand for avocados is growing steadily year by year, it levels o in the fall
after the Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July trio of summer holidays,” says Doug Meyer, senior vice president of sales and marketing for West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, CA. “Halloween o ers an added bump in sales while tailgating provides steady guac-fueled transactions throughout the fall. We’re also nding more retailers are including avocados in their pumpkin patch-themed produce o erings for Halloween and as part of the cornucopia of fall goodness for anksgiving,” he says.
“ e fall is an ideal time to market avocados,” says Stephanie Bazan, vice pres- ident of market development for Avocados from Mexico (AFM), Irving, TX. “Football is the No. 1 sport in the country, so it is a natural t for Avocados From Mexico, the number one brand
of avocados, to
align its marketing
program with the
sport that is an
American tradition.
Guacamole plays a
key role in the fall,
given all of the key
celebrations and
occasions that occur
from September to early December.
“Whether tailgating or even ‘homegating,’ avocados have a place on the plate. is time period is recognized by most major CPG brands in the grocery aisle as they leverage the football thematic on their packaging and/or promotional o ers that tie in to popular foot- ball sports teams, ” she says.
Retailers agree. Patrick Mills, director of produce and oral for Lucky’s Market, a 39-store national retail chain based in Niwot,
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRUITS FROM CHILE