Fruit from Mexican state supports category growth in US market
A new supply source will help avocado giant Mission Produce deliver a year-round programme in the US market.
The California-based company has imported some of the first avocados to the US from the Mexican state of Jalisco.
“We are pleased to expand on our longstanding partnerships with Jalisco growers to bring an enhanced supply of high-quality avocados to the US,” said Keith Barnard, senior vice president of sales and sourcing at Mission.
“Jalisco has supported our growing distribution in export markets since 2009, so we are in an optimal position to capitalise on the region’s access to the US and strengthen supply consistency for our US customer base.”
More than 600 avocado orchards across Jalisco have been formally certified by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
The Association of Exporting Producers of Aguacate de Jalisco (APEAJAL) anticipates growers to initially export up to 5,000 tonnes of Hass avocados to the US weekly.
The majority of Mission’s avocado imports from Jalisco will be routed through the company’s distribution center in Laredo, Texas.
“Fruit from Jalisco is of superb quality – the region is home to highly skilled growers, professionally managed farms and high-producing trees,” said Rigo Perez, director of Mexico sourcing.
“Additionally, Jalisco’s Mendez and Hass crops extend the season of avocados available to the US by about six-to-eight weeks, so we look forward to leveraging the additional volume to complement our existing sourcing strategy in Michoacán.”
Barnard said the additional fruit will help meet growing consumer demand in the US.
“After sourcing fruit from Jalisco for decades, we’re thrilled to be one of the first to introduce this premium product to the US market,” Barnard said. “Avocados have become a staple of the US diet, so increasing available supply supports further category growth.”
