Mexican avocado industry makes advances

The Mexican avocado industry is amongst the first to benefit from a new initiative made possible through Mexico Calidad Suprema (MCS) certification scheme ensuring good agricultural practices.

Increasing numbers of growers are adopting MexicoGAP voluntarily and are participating in a new initiative to create a Reduction Risk and Contamination system created by the Mexican government and promoted by Mexico Calidad Suprema.

The strategy is to give technical and training assistance to all growers so they can implement the system.

Training courses will be available to growers, packers, food safety experts and MCS consultants who provide technical assistance and implement certification with a view to building teams to take the industry forward.

Mexican exports are based on the Hass variety available in a season of five months between October to February, with fruit in lesser volumes available throughout the year.

Production is centred on the Michoacan state, with avocado exports currently increasing at an annual rate of nearly 40 per cent, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography.