According to data from the Ministry of Finance of Japan, Mexican avocado exports to Japan achieved a new record in 2019 totaling US $217 million, i.e. 14% more than in the previous year. In fact, Mexico is positioned as the main avocado supplier of the Japanese market, accounting for 90.5% of all of its imports.
Avocado: world production
Following the rapid growth in global demand, world avocado production reached an estimated 6.3 million tons in 2018, i.e. 6.7% more than in 2017, according to data from the Organization of United Nations for Food and Agriculture (FAO).
In 2018, approximately 35% of the world's avocado production was sent to export markets. On average, only 3-5% of the production of the other main tropical fruits is exported. However, avocado production only accounted for 6% of the main tropical fruits' production in 2018.
More than half of all the world's avocado production is generated in Central America and the Caribbean, largely due to the strong position of Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Mexico's production only accounted for more than a third of the world production in 2018, as it increased by 11% since 2017 as a result of significant investments in technologies to improve the performance and area expansion.
Properties
Thanks to different investigations, we now know that avocado is a source of energy and vitamins and that it provides specific non-nutritive physiological benefits that can improve health.
From this point of view, avocado can be considered as a functional food. Some nutraceutical ingredients that have been found in avocado pulp are antioxidants, such as vitamin E or tocopherols and glutathione.
Both function as antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals that can damage aging cells, the heart, and contribute to the development of some types of cancer, such as those that attack the mouth and pharynx, according to FAO.
Source: opportimes.com