Total exports of avocado from Israel this season will amount to around 27,000 tonnes, half of the volume exported last year. As the second half of the export season begins, exporters told freshinfo: "The reduction in quantities shipped to Europe will be reflected in losses to the growers."
Gabi Naamani, Avocado Product Manager at Agrexco, said that his company plans to export 21,000t, compared with 36,000t in last year’s bumper season. He said the main reduction pertains to the Hass variety, and particularly large sizes. Naamani commented that due to an "acute shortage" of avocado on the European market, "the prices we fetch are very high, such as €8-9 for a 4kg carton of Hass, and €7-8 for a 4kg carton of green varieties, which are traditionally marketed in Germany and Scandinavia."
Trade sources in Tel Aviv said that in other categories, the export of capsicum, cherry tomatoes and some other items, "faced difficulties as the markets ae saturated with supplies from many sources."
