The Peruvian avocado industry has reflected on what has been hailed as a successful season, with around 176,000 metric tons (MT) of fruit shipped over the campaign. 

ProHass general manager Arturo Medina said the volumes, prices, and fruit quality had all been good for the deal that ended in the first half of September.

"Around 70% was shipped to Europe, nearly 20% to the U.S. and the rest of the volumes were divided between China, Japan, Chile and a bit to Canada and Central America," he told www.freshfruitportal.com.

In terms of the Asian market, he said "this year we were really able to say that we shipped a significant volume, especially to China."

He added that volumes to Chile had increased, with almost 280 containers shipped to Peru's southern neighbor.

"We are very happy and the comments that we have received regarding the Peruvian fruit in Chile have been very good," he said.

Medina said the quality this campaign had been a cause for celebration, adding exporters had been pleased with their financial returns.

"Like every year, we have been carrying out lots of promotional campaigns. This year we did some in England and Germany. We also did a promotional campaign in conjunction with exhibitors in Spain, one is Reyer Guitiérrez and another is Eurobanan," he said.

"In Chile we also did promotion which went fantastically well. We are very happy and we hope that people continue to eat more and more fruit in Chile, where the consumption of Peruvian avocados has grown."

He added the 'future of avocados' was in Asia.

"As an association we are preparing for next year, when we think that we will export even high volumes [to Asia], so we need to be prepared for that," he said.

Peru has around 25,000 hectares of farmland dedicated to Hass avocados, of which at least 21,000 are currently under production. Medina said the figure was growing at around 1,000-1,500 hectares annually.

He also highlighted the Indian, Argentine and Colombian markets had opened, and market access was pending for New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.

"When we open a market we invest a lot in promotion, we believe  that it is way for the people to get to know the fruit," he said.

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