Israel's avocado growers are forecasting a high volume season with yields over 80,000 tonnes - a rise of more than 50 per cent of output during the previous two seasons.

Production in 2007 was hit by what growers refer to as the intermittence phenomenon and quantities fell last season due to a cold snap.

Exporters are likely to send 50,000t with a value of some €70 million (£62.6m) this season, compared to last season’s 32,000t and income of €50 million.

Agrexco exports the lion’s share, accounting for 70 per cent of shipped volumes. Hass is taking a greater proportion of the overall crop and its share is forecast to climb from 20 per last season to 30 per cent.

Israeli agronomists are concentrating on maintaining their country’s diversity of varieties, in order to prolong their marketing window as far as possible.

Some 5,000 hectares are under avocado orchards in Israel and older trees are being replaced so that acreage swells by 300-400ha annually. Thanks to research and investment in a portfolio of varieties, Israel is able to supply the UK market for six to seven months of the year from October to May. Hass accounts for some 33 per cent of total output.

Topics