Spanish avocado producers in Andalusia have begun harvesting this year’s crop, with expectations of a 25 per cent increase in volumes compared with last season.
Production, which is centered in the province of Malaga, is likely to reach between 50,000 and 55,000 tonnes this season, of which some 80 per cent will be accounted for by the Hass variety, with the rest drawn from green-skinned avocados.
However, some concerns remains among Spanish avocado growers over prices, particularly for non-Hass products, as prices for some green-skinned varieties, such as Bacon, have dropped by 40 per cent compared with last year.
Speaking to Diario Sur, Benjamín Faulí from regional association Asaja Malaga, said that an oversupply of avocados in Europe was the principle cause of the price slump, while the entry of Israel-produced Ettinger in the market at “low prices” was also having an effect.
Despite this, Mr Faulí said the good forecast for the Hass crop, and the expected 25 per cent rise in total volumes, was likely to increase overall returns for producers.
He told the publication the production rise had been brought about by a combination of the heavy rains that hit the province in early 2010 and last year’s smaller crop, which had helped enable a greater amount of flowering on trees.
Growers in Malaga last year produced 46,000 tonnes of avocados over some 6,000ha, which generated an estimated €62m in revenue. Some 72 per cent of the crop is exported, to principally Germany, France and the UK.
