The Moroccan avocado season has already started with an increase in the production estimated at between 20 and 30%, "in line with the increase expected in Spanish production areas such as Huelva, Cadiz or the Valencian Community," says Antonio Méndez, from Alborán Produce Services.
"At the moment, the market situation is not the easiest. Europe is receiving the production of several origins at the same time, including Mexico, Chile or Colombia, as well as Morocco, and at the beginning of the season, the market is not absorbing the desired volumes of Moroccan fruit," he says.
"Traditionally, November and December are months with a lower fruit and vegetable turnover, and due to expected consumer spending at Christmas, which is generally quite high, consumption of certain products with a higher price, such as avocado, is affected. Supermarkets have been running promotions, but in the end, it seems they are not having enough of an impact."
"For this reason, avocado shipments from Morocco are currently not too big," says Antonio. "As far as sizes are concerned, Morocco will once again be mainly exporting avocados of calibers 16, 18 and 20 to Europe."
Antonio says that "small-sized avocados fetch very good prices on the Moroccan domestic market, which is why they are usually sold locally. Avocado consumption is quite high in Morocco, especially in the economic capitals such as Rabat or Casablanca. There's a milkshake that is traditionally consumed during Ramadan, but which is now starting to become popular for year-round consumption."
"Colombia exports these smaller sizes, which are generally sold in nets by supermarkets, but Morocco also aims to market larger sizes and high quality fruit. Those of us who have been working in this industry for years have witnessed the huge progress achieved by Morocco in the last 5-6 years in terms of technification of avocado production, and the quality they are currently obtaining is really good," says Antonio.
"The Lamb Hass variety will allow Morocco to extend the season"
The Moroccan avocado harvest, like that of other fruit and vegetables, also has the advantage of having a small head start against Spain, which is the leading avocado producer in Europe. This leaves a very interesting gap for Moroccan fruit.
"From October onwards, Moroccan Bacon and Fuerte avocados are already available, and these have their niche market in Europe. Hass avocados still account for the bulk of the production (around 90%), but we are already beginning to see the first plantations of Lamb Hass in the country," says Antonio.
"Just like in Spain, the Lamb Hass variety is allowing Morocco to extend the season; in their case, until March/April, as the Hass usually finishes in January/February. But this is not the only advantage," he says.
"In terms of cultivation, the Lamb Hass makes it possible to produce more kilos per hectare than the Hass variety. It also achieves greater leaf development, which protects the fruit and improves the plant's photosynthetic ratio, helping it produce fruit of larger calibers," he says.
"The disadvantage of this variety is that it has to be harvested with higher percentages of dry matter than the Hass, so it tends to have a shorter shelf life. However, the proximity to Europe minimizes the consequences of this feature of Lamb Hass avocado," says Antonio Méndez, who together with Álvaro and Borja, who make up the Alborán Produce Services team, traveled to Morocco in November to visit the farms of the growers they work with.
"At the moment, we are working directly with Moroccan growers and producers, helping them develop commercial relations with European distributors so that they can export their fruit this season. We are thus inviting any interested parties, both Moroccan producers and European retailers, to get in touch with professionals who, like us at Alborán Produce Services, are present on site and stand out for our experience and knowledge. This is the ideal moment to get involved in the Moroccan avocado campaign," says Antonio Méndez.
For more information:
Antonio Méndez
Alborán Produce Services
Malaga, Spain
Tel.: +34 622 933 328
[email protected]