Calavo Growers has completed the expansion of its fresh avocado packing operations in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico, in time for an anticipated jump in avocado consumption on the US market to at least 1.65bn lbs (748,427 tonnes), according to a company statement.
The company said that the upgrade provides the Uruapan packhouse with the capacity to pack at least 6m lbs of fruit per week, which translates into a 200 per cent increase over prior output, and 300m lbs of avocados each year.
The boost in production capability brings the Mexican facility in line with Calavo’s California packhouses, and boosts the company’s total capacity to approximately 600m lbs a year, according to chairman, president and chief executive officer Lee E. Cole.
“Consumer demand for fresh avocados continues to grow at a quickening pace,” said Cole, “with per capita consumption heading from four to five pounds annually. In the past decade or so alone, that figure has risen from a mere two pounds.”
Cole stated that industry estimates tip avocado consumption in the US to reach at least 1.65bn lbs in 2013, an increase of more than 17 per cent on the expected 2012 purchases and about 47 per cent over 2011 consumption.
“With the anticipated uptick in supply and our expanded capacity, Calavo is well positioned to handle this increased volume,” he explained.
“Further, the capital investment in Uruapan reflects a new Calavo focus on expanding its market-leading position in the fast-growth fresh avocado segment.”
The Uruapan packhouse became fully operational on 1 August at stepped-up production levels, the company noted.
In addition to increasing the facility’s total square footage by nearly 75 per cent, specific enhancements include larger, faster equipment for grading, sizing and packing that is both quiet and safe.
The company also installed larger coolers to keep pace with the increased production, improving Calavo’s already strict cold-chain protocols.
Those cooling modifications are expected to further fine-tune the company’s market-leading standards of ripening and consumer-bagged avocados for the North American retail and food service markets.
