In the Spanish province of Huelva, avocado cultivation has continued to expand in recent years and in the 2022/23 season the acreage was already the third largest of the region of Andalusia. This was revealed in the campaign report from the Prices and Markets Observatory of the Andalusian Regional Government, which reported that the province already had 1,100 hectares of avocados.
A significant part of this acreage corresponds to young plantations, which explains the current low yields per hectare, such as those of producer Jacinto González Martín, of the company Villa Pedraza, located in the municipality of Villablanca.
"In this area, avocado cultivation has developed a lot in recent years," he says. "Mostly on the banks of the Guadiana, either on the Huelva or the Portuguese side, where we have a microclimate with relatively mild temperatures, without extreme cold or heat, which is what avocados need. Also, although irrigation is still restricted by 25% since the 1st of April, we have enough water for the crops."
"In my case, my 10-hectare plantation is two years old, and this year, after the flowering, I can see that more fruit has set than last year. In fact, in general, all growers in the area have the feeling that there has been a better fruit set and the trees are loaded with more fruit, so we are expecting a good avocado season."
The expansion of the acreage leaves no room for doubt that over the next few years, avocado production will grow rapidly in the province, so Andalusian traders, many of which are based in Malaga, have their sights set there.
"Last year, I sold my fruit to a sales company from Velez-Malaga that came and bought all my production on the farm itself, and they were not the only ones. Another one, which has opened a facility in Tavira, offered us to work with them through the center in Portugal."
"Even though it is only July, we are already seeing marketers showing interest in the fruit from the area, although we are pondering whether to work with the cooperative in Villablanca and export directly," says Jacinto.
For now, prospects are therefore positive for Huelva's avocado sector, which remains optimistic about the possibility of last year's prices being matched, "especially for the large sizes, which were sold for up to 3.50 euros/kilo, as in general, there was a predominance of medium sizes. The advantage of young trees here in Huelva is that the fruit grows to larger sizes than those in the trees that are in full production."
For more information:
Villa Pedraza S.L.U.
Villablanca, Huelva, Spain
Tel.: +34 674 341 786
[email protected]