The Association of Avocado Producers, Packers, and Exporters of Mexico (APEAM) reported that the country had achieved a new record in the export of avocados to the US this week after exporting more than 33,000 tons of this fruit for the celebration of the Super Bowl this Sunday.
In January 2019, shipments of Mexican avocados to the US market totaled 120,000 tons, i.e. 20% more than in the same month of 2018. According to APEAM, they expect a new increase this year, as Mexico exported 33,814 tons of avocado to the US in the third week of January when the usual weekly rate is 22,000.
The president of Mexico's National Agricultural Council (CNA), Bosco de la Vega, estimated the consumption of this product at 8,000 tons during the game alone, and stressed that Mexico supplied “almost 98% of the avocado that the United States imports.”
Avocado producers, taking advantage of the popularity of its fruit among Americans, will promote their product once again with a 30-second ad in the Super Bowl this Sunday, as they've done in the previous five years. In addition, in coordination with the Avocados From Mexico organization, they will have different stalls called "Tacos Por fAVOr" in the Miami Hard Rock Stadium, where the game will be held.
Small producers, suppliers
64% of the avocado that Mexico exports to the United States comes from micro and small producers, according to data provided this week by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader).
According to this data, 41% of the production is cultivated in 17,753 orchards by producers that own less than 5 hectares, while 23% of the production is harvested by small-scale farmers in 9,959 orchards, with areas that have 5.1 to 10 hectares.
“Avocado shipments to the United States represent the most successful example of binational collaboration between the health authorities of each country, Mexican producers, and packers, with an export volume of more than 1.2 million tons per year and profits of more than 2.5 billion dollars,” the Sader stressed.
Source: efeagro.com