Exports of Chilean Hass avocado are expected to have contracted by 56 per cent by the end of the 2010/11 season, according to preliminary figures from the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee.
“We had less fruit that we originally estimated,” committee president Adolfo Ochagavía was quoted as saying in a report by Estrategia. “I believe we’re now going to finish exports with close to 85,000 tonnes.”
The majority of the shortfall (75 per cent) is directly attributable to the alternating bearing nature of the avocado crop, while the remaining 25 per cent drop is the result of frosts, Mr Ochagavía said.
Despite the decline in exports (which was largely expected this season), Mr Ochagavía said the local Chilean market performed well.
“We’ve had a more dynamic internal market than expected, with higher internal demand which is rather positive,” he explained. “We hope that the trend continues.”
Last season Chile exported a record 195,000 tonnes of Hass avocados.?
