thechileanavocadoindustry,anoverview.docVIP

The Chilean Avocado Industry, an Overview In recent years the presence of Chilean avocados in US markets has become a familiar sight. Most California avocado growers’ knowledge of the Chilean avocado industry is limited, although they are familiar with its impact on the US market and on personal harvesting strategies. Inventory reports by the California Avocado Commission and packinghouse faxes are the primary sources of information on the flow of Chilean avocados into the marketplace. This overview is an effort to answer the questions interested growers may have about different aspects of the Chilean avocado industry. Chilean avocado groves are located in a range of latitudes similar to those in California, but in the southern hemisphere. La Serena, the northern limit of the Chilean industry is located at 29o53’S, while the southern limit at Melipilla is at 33o41’S. Contrast this with San Diego, CA at 32o45’N and Cambria in San Luis Obispo county at 35o33’N. Chilean fruit is mature when California is at the transition between the late and early season, from August onward. This unique situation gives the Chilean industry a market well primed by the momentum of California avocado sales. Historically, during this time of the year, demand for California avocados would exceed supplies and prices would rise dramatically. The Chileans recognized this window of opportunity and turned the US into the focus of their avocado exporting efforts. The first significant shipment of 6 million lbs of Chilean avocados arrived in the US in 1986 as the US avocado market, thanks to the CAC merchandising efforts and demographic changes, was in a cycle of growth (Figure 1). After some initial attempts at exporting avocados to the US through the usual produce channels, the Chilean industry quickly learned that the most efficient distribution method was by the same organizations that market California avocados. This shift in marketing strategy provided the Chilean industry an infr