In the US, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has revealed that 2012 proved to be a record-breaking year for Hass avocados, with the industry topping the 1.5bn lb consumption mark – 34 per cent more than in 2011.
Demand for Hass avocados in the US has been increasing steadily over the last several years and consumers have continued to add them to their diets, due in large part to the marketing programmes executed by the Hass avocado industry.
'Stronger avocado supply is motivating retailers to promote the fruit more aggressively, generating increased velocity at point of sale,' said Emiliano Escobedo, executive director at the HAB.
HAB's nutrition research initiatives will support increased consumption as health professionals and consumers learn about the emerging science behind avocado goodness, according to Escobedo.
Looking ahead to 2013, the Hass avocado market is expected to expand even more, with HAB is projecting that annual volumes will reach 1.65bn lbs, an increase of 10 per cent.
An increase in supply and high impact marketing programmes in the US will be the main drivers of this growth, HAB said.
