An expected lack of demand for Chilean avocados in the UK could overshadow the start of the season, despite recent media coverage of the fruit’s health benefits.
Adolfo Ochagavía, president the Chilean Hass Avocado Association (CHAA), told FPJ at the association’s third annual Avocado Brotherhood Lunch at Claridge’s, London: “Demand in the UK will suffer because of the economic crisis and we really don’t know how much it will effect us yet.
“Exports are down by at least 10 per cent on last year because of last year’s frost and drought in two of our main production areas,” he added.
“But less volume does help to maintain price, and we expect a good year for volume next year. But we will know more about that when the avocado flowers have formed in April.”
However, Ochagavía believes the UK is still a good market for Chilean avocados and said that the fruit is becoming more popular with UK consumers. “We have a simple campaign message,” he told guests at the lunch. “Chilean avocados are extremely good for you and taste delicious. There have been two articles published in the last fortnight in the UK; one about the sorbic acids in avocados and one claiming avocados are one of the healthiest fruits you can get.
“We are really reaching British consumers now.”
