"We expect to increase exports to China soon"

"It looks like we are heading for another normal avocado season from Peru. Last year was challenging, with a lot of small sizes. Our growers are optimistic about the calibres hanging on the trees this year, similar to 2022," says Oscar van Reisen, sourcing manager at Fairtrasa, speaking from Peru. The importer works with around 80 small- and medium-sized growers, who receive year-round support from Fairtrasa's agronomists. "Some other growers have already started shipping, but we prefer to wait a bit longer to ensure good dry matter content."

Avocado cultivation in Peru is still booming. "People talk about 80,000 hectares of Hass avocados, but I believe the area is already approaching 100,000 hectares," Oscar says. Fairtrasa focuses primarily on organic avocados but also offers conventional ones. "Our main objective here is to support growers who are transitioning to organic," Oscar explains.

"The avocado market is currently in good shape. We're coming from a period of shortages, particularly of small sizes. The market is now in a transition phase. Supplies from Spain and Israel are declining, and Morocco has very little left. Quite a few shipments from Peru are on their way, but the large exporters will begin loading around week 19. Other countries have also resumed, such as South Africa, with Maluma Hass avocados. The first containers from Kenya are also expected this week, although Kenya still faces logistical challenges since most shipping lines avoid the canal."

According to Oscar, consumers are increasingly looking for healthy avocados with clear origins and responsible treatment. "That's what we are aiming to deliver. Personally, I think Peru produces the most visually appealing avocados, and in terms of flavour, it ranks alongside South Africa. We were the first to market bananas with ROC certification and plan to extend this to our avocados soon."

© FairTrasa
"With our Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) products, we go beyond organic: we actively contribute to a healthier planet. Our growers use their own compost, ground covers, and companion planting to enhance biodiversity. This not only keeps the soil fertile but also helps sequester CO₂. Within this natural ecosystem, our crops thrive without harmful substances and under fair working conditions, thanks to Fairtrade. Regenerative agriculture enriches the soil with up to 70% more organic matter and strengthens crops' resilience to climate change. In this way, we are collectively taking a step toward a better future for both people and the environment."

Impact fees:
"Everyone is also watching tariff developments closely. For now, Mexican avocados seem to be safe from U.S. import tariffs. But we'll have to see how things unfold. Mexico may shift more volumes to Europe due to these uncertainties. The country has lost considerable ground in the European market in recent years, but if post-harvest is managed well, it's still a fantastic avocado. Twenty years ago, Fairtrasa introduced the first Fairtrade avocado from Mexico, and we've built a strong and lasting relationship with the country since then."

Fairtrasa markets avocados throughout Europe, with a strong presence in German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, and France. "We have a smaller footprint in Eastern and Southern Europe, but we plan to expand our exports there. Last year, we trialled avocado shipments from Kenya and Morocco arriving in southern Spain, and we see potential to develop this further as a corridor for Southern Hemisphere supply."

"Logistics continue to be a challenge, and delays are still common. Fortunately, the situation has improved compared to a few months ago, when securing cargo space for mangoes was particularly difficult due to the high volume of blueberries. There's still occasional congestion, but there are also positive developments, like the new port in Peru, which has significantly shortened lead times. For us at Fairtrasa, this presents real opportunities. We've had limited activity in China so far, but initial contacts have been made, and there's a good chance we'll soon increase exports there. The first container is scheduled to depart this week!"

Difficult Peruvian mango season
The Peruvian mango season has now ended. "It was a challenging season, with significant price pressure, especially for mangoes from Piura. Fortunately, there was more fruit available than last year, but a lot of it arrived around Christmas and New Year, when demand is lower," Oscar recalls. "Expectations were high for Casma, but supply there was severely impacted by the Alternaria fungus, which appeared in the valley for the first time this year. As a result, we had to do considerable sorting after arrival. That was unfortunate because market conditions were favourable, but there was too little good product."

"Additionally, many mangoes from Casma had too high a Brix level for export, and we saw the same during the second harvest. As a result, March arrivals from Peru consisted almost entirely of air shipments. We were virtually the only supplier offering organic mangoes in the market in March," Oscar says. For Fairtrasa, air freight is not a preferred option. "Very few customers want organic mangoes transported by air. For conventional mangoes, there are definitely some customers who do, but in the organic sector, it's much less common."

Meanwhile, African mango sourcing is gaining momentum. "We're starting with Ivory Coast, followed by some volumes from Burkina Faso, and then Senegal. However, trade from Africa is becoming more difficult in some cases due to political instability and climate conditions. We'll soon move on to Keitt mangoes from Colombia and the Dominican Republic. The outlook is positive, as there are not too many mangoes on the market, and we also experienced a supply gap this year. ROC certification is also high on our agenda for organic mangoes," Oscar concludes.

For more information:
Oscar van Reisen
Fairtrasa
Hovenierstraat 120
2671 DB Naaldwijk
Tel: +31 174 291 604
oscar.reisen@fairtrasa.nl
www.fairtrasa.com