The growing demand for avocados in Spain and in the rest of Europe has resulted in an increase in the Spanish avocado production area, which currently covers 9% of total European demand. According to Asaja's Tropical Fruit Sector, Spain's avocado supply will increase with the entry into production of 1,000 hectares in Huelva, 1,260 hectares in Cadiz, and 2,300 hectares in the Valencian Community, which will complement the 15,000 hectares that the country already had in production in Malaga and Granada-Costa, and the 2,000 hectares in the Canary Islands.
Spain is not only a producer country but also an importer and re-exporter of avocados. That's why Asaja's tropical sector insists on the need and obligation of having clear labeling that allows contrasting the product's origin of provenance and traceability.
The sector also wants to make it clear that avocado is a social crop that generates a lot of labor and that the people that work in it settle down in the areas where it can be implanted, as it is a more profitable alternative to other irrigated crops that are no longer very profitable, such as stone fruits or even citrus. In addition, the sector stated, it is important to remember that the avocado's water needs are similar - and even lower - than the needs of the crops it displaces.
In the current campaign, Spanish avocado producers have invoiced 170 million euro, i.e. 6.6% less than the 182 million euro invoiced in the 2019/2020 campaign. This decrease in turnover is due to the fact that national production has fallen by 25% (61,500 tons) because of the trees' natural cycle and the heat in last August.
Fortunately, avocado producers have been able to compensate for this drop in production because prices at origin have been higher than in the previous season. Last year, Hass avocado prices ranged from 2.20 to 2.65 euro/kg, while this campaign they have ranged from 2.50 to 3.20 euro/kg. The average price of green-skinned avocados has ranged from 1.34 to 2.30 euros/kg. Lamb Hass and organic avocado achieved higher prices at the end of the season.
Source: agronewscastillayleon.com