The avocado associations of Peru and Chile are reportedly considering a partnership in order to promote their fruit on a 12-month basis in the US – similar to an alliance the groups currently operate in the UK and Europe.
The marketing initiative would seek to raise awareness of the year-round availability of avocados from Chile and Peru (whose seasons complement each other) as an alternative source to Mexico – currently the largest avocado supplier to the US.
“We hope to work with the (Chilean) Committee and the Chilean Avocado Importers Association to promote the fruit in the US since both countries can offer the American market a new 12-month window of supply, or, in other words, an alternative to Mexican avocados,” Arturo Medina, general manager of the Peruvian Hass Avocado Producers Association (ProHass) told Peruvian news website Andina.
Peru shipped its first consignment of Hass avocados to the US this year under a new phytosanitary protocol agreed between the two countries.
Currently the industry is waiting for US approval of a study to show Peruvian Hass avocados are not a host for fruit fly, a move which would allow Peru to increase exports, according to Andina.
Mr Medina said the approval would be beneficial for all avocado-producing countries in South America, including Chile where fruit fly is also present.
Avocado consumption in the US has “exploded” in the last 10 years, Mr Medina told Andina, rising by more than 100 per cent.
According to the US Hass Avocado Board, more than 612,000 tonnes of avocados will be marketed in the US during 2010.
Mexico is set to supply 294,835 tonnes, California 222,260 tonnes and Chile 125,005 tonnes.
