Peruvian avocado exports adjust standards and boost quality

Peruvian avocado exports are adjusting to a new technical standard. According to the country’s Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters Association (ProHass), the new protocol requires a minimum dry matter level of 22%, up 0.5% from the old standard set over five years ago. 

Peru’s avocado exports to the United States increased by 30% in week 29, reflecting ongoing growth. The country has shifted from being the U.S.’s fourth-largest supplier to the second-largest, with total exports reaching approximately 66,000 tons during the 2024 campaign.

Meeting international preferences

Importers and premium retailers in Europe and the U.S., which together account for about 75% of Peru’s avocado production, prefer fruit with dry matter content between 23% and 25%. Asia, the third biggest market for Peruvian avocados, typically prefers dry matter levels between 22% and 23%.

“This new standard will help consolidate our country's position as the world's second largest exporter of this fruit and strengthen Peru's reputation as a premium supplier of high-quality avocados, especially for their texture, flavor, and nutritional value,” said ProHass in a press release.

Dry matter content affects ripeness and flavor, and the new 22% minimum aims to elevate overall quality and minimize lower-grade fruit.

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