Israeli avocado growers are looking to put a tough 2008 behind them after frost severely damaged crops and put exporters on the back foot for the last campaign.
Israeli exporter Agrexco is predicting that around 80,000 tonnes will be grown this season - 50,000-55,000t for export and 25,000-30,000t for the domestic market.
Israel has seen a 10-12 per cent increase in land given over to avocado production, with 300-400 hectares added each year.
Growers are also working with chemical-free treatment system Bio B this season to ensure that avocadoes are of good quality and resistant to pest issues.
Israeli producers have now computerised their irrigation systems, enabling them to analyse crops on a tree-by-tree basis and monitor water levels, which can become scarce in the region. Under the current system, no spraying is necessary and corn is grown in between the tree lines, only to be harvested at a later stage to become organic fertiliser. Branches are pruned, shredded and the tree mash is spread on the ground.
Gabi Naamani, avocado product manager at Agrexco, said: “Agrexco is the largest sole exporter, providing 25 per cent of the demand in the six to seven months considered high season.”
The export season begins in earnest this month and ends in May, with Ettinger kicking off production, to be followed by Pinkerton, Fuerte, Ardith, Nabal, Reed and Hass, with the latter comprising one third of the exported volume.
Agrexco, which markets more than 70 per cent of Israel’s avocado exports, is aiming to distribute the avocados all over Europe, as well as far destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.
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