Generic avocados

Hass avocado exports from Peru are tipped to reach 95,000 tonnes in 2013, up from 74,000 tonnes last year, according to the latest forecast from the Peruvian Hass Avocado Producers Association (ProHass).

The estimate is an almost 30 per cent increase on the result in 2012 due mainly to new orchards coming into production across the South American nation.

Of that total, Peru will export 60,000 tonnes to Europe alone, ProHass told Americafruit, Asiafruit and Eurofruit, with the balance sent to North America, Asia and Latin America.

Currently, Peru’s main markets are Europe and the US, which opened up to non cold-treated Peruvian Hass avocados last season.

But with output rising year-on-year, ProHass and its member suppliers are pushing for access in other markets in order to accommodate the volume growth, according to one exporter.

China and Russia are already on the agenda, the exporter said, as well as closer-to-home destinations like Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica.