Colombian avocado shipments to the US have yet to hit their stride due to the detection of pests at a number of farms certified for export to this market.
More than a month has passed since the first US-bound consignment was dispatched from the port of Cartagena.
However, Jorge Enrique Restrepo, executive director of national avocado association CorpoHass, told Colombian national La República that it was unlikely that any more shipments would be made this year following several detections at farms registered for export to the US.
Under the rules set out by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-Aphis), the Colombian Institute of Agriculture (ICA) is required to carry out monthly inspections of registered farms during the harvest and shipping seasons.
There are 34 farms currently undergoing registration for exports to the US.
“Registered farms where an outbreak is detected automatically have their authorisation revoked and are required to take immediate measures to eradicate the disease, as set out by the working plan established by Aphis and the ICA, before they can resume exports,” explained Emilio Arévalo of the ICA.
Restrepo stressed that in spite of the delays, the “registration process is continuing, the market remains open and is eagerly awaiting our avocados”.
In spite of the challenges in meeting the conditions of the US import protocol, Colombia has high hopes for the market. Its proximity to the market, an ability to produce during at least ten months of the year, and its well-established transport and logistics links point towards it becoming an increasingly important player in the US in the coming years.
The Ministry of Agriculture has set a target of 1,000 tonnes for exports to the US market in the first year.
