Rapid expansion continues
The largest markets for Colombian avocados are the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Argentina, Russia, the US, and Costa Rica. The US is Colombia’s fastest-growing market, with exports to the North American country increasing by 603% in value between 2016 and 2020 and 46% between 2019 and 2020. Exports to Canada have grown significantly as well, by 198% between 2016 and 2020.
In 2021, Colombia became the third-largest global avocado exporter and the biggest supplier to the EU. According to ProColombia, between January and May 2021, Colombian avocado shipments reached USD 114.3 million, an increase of 87.8% compared to the same period last year. Avocados are now the second most exported fruit from Colombia, followed by bananas. The country is also making significant headway in opening up new markets. In January 2021, Colombia obtained phytosanitary access to ship avocado to the Chilean market, which led to Colombia penetrating that market. According to Corpohass, South Korea is a new open market for Colombian Hass avocados.
According to the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture, the country has about 4,000 avocado growers, producing about 242K tons of Hass avocado yearly in 32K hectares. The Ministry of Agriculture also plans to help small and medium producers in Colombia export the fruit directly to international buyers. Institutions in Colombia, such as Agrosavia and the Colombian Institute of Agriculture (ICA), carry out the necessary controls to ensure avocados are grown under the right conditions. Further rains are needed to improve avocado production in the country. However, the regions where Colombian avocados are grown are areas where rainfall is the highest and drainage channels exist. The Colombian government is also promoting organic avocado production due to the rising global demand for organic products.
Avocado farms are replacing coffee plantations
Coffee farming has been Colombia’s main crop over the past few decades. However, extreme weather conditions, including prolonged droughts and heavy rains over the past decades, have led to the destruction of harvests. As a result, many farmers have made the switch to avocado farming in recent years. This boom has transformed the fortunes of Colombian farmers. However, scientists warn against the over-cultivation of avocados, as this poses an environmental threat, with the cultivation of the fruit fuelling deforestation and contaminated water supplies.
Colombian avocado farms. (Source: Fresh Fruit Portal)
Sources:
- Produce Bluebook. “Colombian avocado exports nearly double in early 2021.”
- Al Jazeera. “Colombia’s avocado boom shows the hidden costs of ‘green gold’.”
- Statista. “Exports value of avocados worldwide in 2020, by leading country (in million U.S. dollars)*.”
- GLOBAL G.A.P. “Colombia: 61 Avocado Producers Now GLOBALG.A.P. Certified and Ready to Export to Europe.”
- Agro Negocios. “WE ESTIMATE THAT IN COLOMBIA THERE ARE ABOUT 4,000 HASS AVOCADO PRODUCERS"
- Fresh Fruit Portal. “Westfalia eyes Colombian avocado growth over coming years.”
