The president of Fedefruta, Luis Schmidt, spoke on a radio show about the increase in avocado prices, which affects the pockets of Chilean consumers.
Schmidt said avocados were "normally produced between August and the beginning of April. The other months, we consume avocados that have been stored or that arrive from Peru, Mexico, and California."
He also said that currently the Peruvian avocado was delayed, so the country should receive a higher amount of avocado imports by mid-June. "It's really not a climate issue, which of course could affect the new crop. The fact is that the national production, the avocado produced by our producers and farmers, is over. That drives prices up in any part of the world," Schmidt said.
Despite this, the president of Fedefruta does not justify the increase in prices there have been. "Regardless of what's happening, this price is unjustified. I am a producer of avocados and I'm not being paid that. However, if you go shopping in a supermarket, they will probably charge you this prices. It all depends on where you want to buy your products. Between late April and August we have a lower production, which was previously supplied by foreign avocados, mainly from Peru which is now delayed, and by other avocado varieties that producers have replaced for the Hass variety because they were less profitable and couldn't be exported."
In the interview, Schmidt also spoke about the forecast of a shortage of rains for this winter and how it could affect agriculture, the importance of water for this activity, and why it's necessary to improve the infrastructure of reservoirs and basins.
Source: fedefruta.cl