The Portuguese avocado season is looking positive, as the industry is growing with every year that passes. This is also thanks to a collaboration with another company, says Tomás Ferreira Head of Commercial, Logistics and Marketing for Portuguese fruit exporter Granfer: "The avocado season has been commercially successful for us. Our Granfer Westfalia Fruit JV is bearing fruit. We are actively developing the Portuguese market, focusing on both ripening and commercialization with our clients. At the same time, we continue to work on export markets in collaboration with Westfalia. We are extremely pleased with the quality of our fruits and look forward to continued success."
Despite strong developments in terms of yield, the regulations surrounding the use of water remain challenging for the cultivation of avocados, Ferreira emphasizes. "Calibers of the avocados are still leaning towards larger sizes. We're surpassing our goals for this year in terms of tons per hectare with outstanding-quality fruits. Regarding current production, we are seeing increased productivity due to large-scale optimizations on nutrition. Producing in Europe remains more challenging compared to other regions, due to strict regulations on pesticides and water usage. However, we are performing well. We're proud to align our project with a leading orchard in terms of sustainability."
According to Ferreira, production of avocados is starting up in various regions in Portugal: "Acreage for avocados is expanding, following the general trend in the Mediterranean Basin. New orchards are still being planted in Portugal, particularly in the Algarve and Alentejo, though water availability in Algarve remains a significant constraint. As a result, we're seeing a diversification of growing regions, with new developments emerging in both central and northern Portugal. Additionally, new projects are being established, and more areas are entering production. This aligns with the broader trend of increasing avocado production in the Northern Hemisphere."
Ferreira loves the fact that Portuguese consumers are also finding domestically grown avocados more and more as time progresses, but there is also a strong focus on the European export market. "These are exciting times to be working with avocados. The Portuguese market is becoming more familiar with its own production, and consumers are discovering the taste and complexity of locally grown avocados. This awareness is steadily growing, leading to a gradual but consistent increase in avocado consumption. The future looks promising. On the export side, we are working with Westfalia Fruit Europe, supplying various European markets."
Due to an oversupply of avocados from Morocco, this might not be the most ideal scenario for a new orchard, but Ferreira is confident the investments in terms of production will not suffer from this: "As avocados continue to gain popularity and become a staple consumer product, we're seeing an increase in both consumption and production. This year, prices have undergone a slight adjustment, decreasing somewhat due to an oversupply from Morocco. While this may not be the most favorable scenario for new orchards, the quality and uniqueness of our orchard in Portugal continues to ensure strong performance, while maintaining price stability."
So what makes the orchards of Granfer special? Ferreira states the company's invested a lot in various factors, allowing them to offer Portuguese avocados throughout the year: "We've improved our orchard to enhance energy efficiency, optimize water usage, and increase resilience to the unique conditions of the Portuguese winter. Additionally, we've invested in marketing and ripening rooms at Granfer, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality avocados to the Portuguese market year-round, with availability 365 days a year."
"We're further consolidating the presence of Portuguese avocados in both the domestic and European markets. Our harvest is ongoing, and we expect to continue working with local production until the end of March. Of course, thanks to our Westfalia know-how, we are able to focus on delivering optimal fruit, ensuring the best organoleptic qualities for consumers with a local European product."
"Regarding stone fruits, we're still in the early stages of the season. This late winter in Portugal has been particularly humid and rainy, which is beneficial for water availability. However, it also increases exposure to challenges such as hail and excessive rainfall. So far, we're seeing early flowering, and the outlook points to a balanced harvest this year," Ferreira concludes.
For more information:
Tomás Ferreira
Granfer
Tel: +351 910 200 993
Email: tomas.ferreira@granfer.pt
www.granfer.pt